John's Travel Blog

Insights on traveling in Georgia, Armenia, and Turkey

 

Kriste Aghdga [Christ is Risen] in English

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Kriste aghdga (Christ is Risen) is an important Easter hymn in the Georgian Orthodox tradition. Many musical variants of the … Read More

10 Magnificent Churches of Kartli

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 In this series of posts, I document an extraordinary trip to 10 churches in the Shida Kartli region. In this … Read More

Jeep Tour to Rkoni Monastery

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 In this series of posts, I document an extraordinary trip to 10 churches in the Shida Kartli region. To see … Read More

Finding the medieval “Tamar bridge” near Rkoni Monastery

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In this series of posts, I document an extraordinary trip to 10 churches in the Shida Kartli region. To see … Read More

Folk Music Concert: Tbilisi Conservatory Centennial

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On Tuesday, May 2nd, a folk concert was held in the Grand Hall of the Tbilisi Conservatory as part of … Read More

Flash Mob Tbilisi (Georgian Folk Singing)!!

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This past Thursday, a group of some 80 singers participated in a “Flash Mob” of folk singers. From amongst the … Read More

Easter chants at Kintsvisi Monastery

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After singing the Paschal all-night vigil at Bana Monastery, and trapeza in the morning, I started back towards Tbilisi with … Read More

Easter All-Night Vigil, Bana Monastery

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Easter is here! I had the fortune to celebrate the feast with the small brotherhood of monks at the Bana … Read More

Kriste aghdga (Christ is Risen) – Georgian Easter chants

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  Kriste aghdga (Christ is Risen) is an important Easter hymn in the Georgian Orthodox tradition.It is sung when the … Read More

Shen khar venakhi (You are the Vineyard) – the West Georgian variants (3/3)

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This is Post 3 (of 3) on the very special chant, shen khar venakhi (You are the vineyard).Post 1 contains … Read More

Shen khar venakhi (You are the Vineyard) – The East Georgian variants (2/3)

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Post 1: Shen khar venakhi – a Beloved Chant (1/3)  Post 2: Shen khar venakhi – the East Georgian variants … Read More

Annunciation in Georgia (April 7th)

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For the feast of the Annunciation, we sang the troparion “Today is the Crown,” the heirmos “Worthily Gabriel Announced” and … Read More

Shen khar venakhi (You are the Vineyard) – Georgia’s beloved chant (1/3)

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Post 1: Shen khar venakhi – a Beloved Chant (1/3)   Post 2: Shen khar venakhi – the East Georgian … Read More

Singing for the Saints at Betania Monastery

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Sometimes in Georgia, it’s hard to get any work done. The culture demands a more nuanced, flexible approach to life … Read More

Chant in Anchiskhati basilica, Tbilisi

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Yesterday, I had the fortune to sing liturgical chants with the Anchishati Choir, in the Anchiskhati Church in Tbilisi.   … Read More

Kashweti Church – Great Lent begins

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              Today is Forgiveness Sunday at the Kashweti Church of St. George, a major church in downtown Tbilisi that … Read More

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