Published in 1996, 42 pp., bilingual (English and Georgian) edition with the super quality colour photographs (many of them first time published).
The main part of the Journal is devoted to the results of two expeditions to Gareji Mountains.
Article “Rock-cut Monastery
Tetri Senakebi and a group of caves Shavi Senakebi (Overview of the new-discovered
rock-cut monuments)” by Temo Jojua.
The expeditions was organized
in August-September 1995 by Fund “Udabno” with the purpose of monitoring
the outermost north-west part of Gareji highland, where Fund “Udabno”,
after analyzing the local toponym and an oral information, considered plausible
to discover a rock-cut monastery unknown to scientists. The expedition
was a great success: an unknown rock-cut monastery with a skete to the
south was discovered. 10 caves (including 5 churches, one of them with
murals) of the monastery, and 6 caves of the skete were described, measured
and photographed. The members of the expedition gave the name Tetri Senakebi
to the monastery, though lately they substituted Mravaltskaro for it.
Article “Flora and Fauna
of Gareji” by D.Tarkhnishvili, A.Gavashelishvili et al.
The expedition was organized
in March-May 1995 jointly by Fund “Udabno” and the Nature Conservation
Group of “Cuna Georgica”. This is the sole contemporary description
of the species found in Gareji.
Article “History of David-Gareji”
by Lado Mirianashvili
Viewpoints of different
scientists about the nationality and reasons for coming of thirteen “Syrian
Fathers” to Georgia are considered. Step by step development of Gareji
monasteries is shown by means of tracing architectural design of rock-cut
cells and churches.
Article “Murals of David-Gareji”
by Zaza Skhirtladze
gives an overview of the
Gareji School of Painting.