Bagrati Cathedral

Bagrati Cathedral, or the Cathedral of the Dormition, rises above Kutaisi as a monument to the birth of a united Georgia. Construction began in the late 10th century, and the church was consecrated in 1003 and named after King Bagrat III. It became the principal church of the state, a coronation site, and a symbol of royal authority. Its restrained cross-domed design, powerful central dome, and warm local tuff conveyed calm strength and grandeur. David the Builder was crowned here in 1089. Wars and destruction later damaged the cathedral: a gunpowder explosion destroyed the dome, artillery ruined parts of the walls, and it stood in ruins for almost three centuries. A 21st-century reconstruction restored its silhouette but reduced some of its authenticity.

Different legends surround the cathedral's name. One eastern tale links it to a young woman's suffering and disappointed hopes. Another tells of the tragic love between a princess and a fisherman who went to sea and never returned. The name thus seems to hold memories of pain, loss, and love that could never be fulfilled.