Georgian Church Porches – the Gate to the House of God for the Righteous

Abstract

Several Georgian churches and cathedrals feature porches which exhibit splendid architecture. I believe that these porches – their structure, decoration, and function – play an essential role in the church, beyond a liminal zone connecting the outside world and a spiritual-religious one. The sheltering entrance welcomed those worshipers who approached a passage area into the building which fulfilled a symbolic mission in the religious life of the congregation and liturgical rituals, both independent of the church and as an integral part of it. These architectural elements played a significant role within the Divine Liturgy of the church, reflecting theological and philosophical theories which evolved throughout the Byzantine Empire and Georgian society over the centuries.

The existence of porches and porticos raises enigmatic questions which this article will investigate. Why were they decorated so elaborately and what message did they convey? Furthermore, why did the initiators pay so much attention to them? Assuming that they fulfilled political and geopolitical purposes, what were their roles? What other functions did they hold, if any? Are there differences in structure, function, and meaning between one place and other? Studying the culture, history, and the façades decoration reveals that Georgia was a sophisticated society in which the written word was a crucial component in its cultural development.

Examining Georgian historical architectural and artistic literature, together with current research, one can find various interpretations and information about the porches, such as the articles written by Thomas Kaffenberger on Manglisi church and Nato Gengiuri on Georgian church porches. However, the philosophical perceptions attached to this architectural element by Georgian society, as well as its theological and liturgical implications, had tremendous importance. After all, the porch was the first area which the congregant entered upon arrival to the church. What was the role of the portico/porch in the liturgy, if any? These elements have been overlooked in many case studies, and they are a central theme of this investigation.

Recognizing the meaning and symbolism behind architectural elements seems to be one aspect which led to the porch’s development. Thus, the primary purpose is to establish a theoretical foundation to the porch phenomenon based on their architectural construction and decoration. In addition, the focus is on the possible liturgy conducted at the gate, entrances, porch, annex, and doors; as well as on theological and philosophical thoughts expressed from early Christianity onward; and finally, on the political climate and cultural environment of the period under discussion.

The visual elements played a significant cultural role in harnessing art and the written word to express theological and philosophical perceptions along with political messages and historical events.