In the tranquil region of Imereti, Georgia, the Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stands as a testament to the country’s rich medieval history. However, recent events have cast a shadow over this revered monument. In February, a fierce storm swept through the area, causing significant damage to the monastery’s ancient frescoes, further exacerbating a crisis that has plagued the site for years. The storm’s impact was particularly severe due to water infiltration in two churches within the complex, leading to damage that has alarmed art historians and conservationists worldwide.
In the aftermath, British art restoration specialists, Lisa Shekede and Stephen Rickerby, visited Gelati in March to assess the damage and plan their intervention. Their mission, which they described as “preliminary interventions in critical areas,” aimed to stabilize the frescoes and prevent further deterioration. Yet, their visit, which coincided with the Georgian media’s increasing scrutiny of the rehabilitation efforts at Gelati, was met with skepticism and concern.
The narrative of Gelati’s restoration is marred by a series of miscommunications, halted projects, and a lack of transparency, particularly following the departure of the Italian team from the “Giovanni Secco Suardo Association” in September 2022. This Italian team, known for their expertise in cultural heritage preservation, had been working at Gelati under the commission of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation since 2021. Their work was abruptly stopped when the Patriarchate, under the directive of Archimandrite Kirion Oniani and spokesperson Andria Jaghmaidze, expelled the specialists from the site.
The decision to halt the Italian team’s work was controversial. The Patriarchate, which took over the rehabilitation project from the Ministry of Culture in April 2023, justified the expulsion by citing concerns about the methods and materials used by the Italians. Specifically, they criticized the use of polymers and acrylics, which they claimed could trap moisture and accelerate the deterioration of the frescoes. However, the Italians defended their work, stating that their interventions were necessary to address the urgent needs of the deteriorating artwork. “Our missions were very short-term… These were in fact emergency interventions because the focus was on saving the artwork, not on long-term conservation,” said Marco Pulieri, a member of the Suardo team.
The expulsion marked a turning point in Gelati’s restoration, leading to a year-long pause in active conservation work. During this time, the frescoes continued to suffer, with the summer heat exacerbating the drying process and further endangering the artwork. Georgian specialists, including Merab Buchukuri, who had collaborated with the Suardo team, criticized the Patriarchate’s decision to focus solely on monitoring rather than intervening to save the frescoes. “Monitoring doesn’t mean just watching someone die; you have to help save them,” Buchukuri remarked, expressing his frustration at the inaction.
As of March 2024, the British specialists returned to Gelati to resume their work, albeit with a different approach. Their focus has been on assessing the full extent of the damage and planning a comprehensive conservation strategy. However, their reluctance to engage with the media and provide detailed information about their plans has raised concerns among Georgian art historians and the public. The Gelati Rehabilitation Committee, formed by the Patriarchate, has also faced criticism for its lack of transparency. Despite promising openness, the committee has not published crucial documents, such as the conservation plan or financial reports, leaving many questions unanswered.
The ongoing crisis at Gelati underscores the challenges of preserving cultural heritage sites in the face of political and bureaucratic hurdles. The monastery’s frescoes, which include priceless 16th-century scenes such as “The Washing of the Feet,” “The Last Supper,” and “Christ Before Caiaphas,” are at risk of being lost forever if urgent and effective action is not taken. The situation has led to a broader debate about the role of international and local experts in cultural heritage preservation, and the responsibilities of those in charge of such projects.
The future of Gelati now hangs in the balance. The Patriarchate, which has been entrusted with the site’s restoration, faces the daunting task of addressing the damage while navigating the criticisms from both international and Georgian specialists. Meanwhile, the global heritage community watches closely, hoping that the lessons learned from Gelati will lead to better practices in the preservation of other cultural treasures worldwide.
As Gelati’s frescoes continue to deteriorate, the stakes could not be higher. The need for transparency, collaboration, and swift action is critical. If the restoration efforts falter, the world risks losing not just a piece of Georgian history, but a significant part of humanity’s shared cultural heritage.
