Long time Facebook friend Tamar Shermadini stars in this video.

The Republic of Georgia is among the oldest surviving Christian nations. Its conversion dates to the fifth century and the nation abounds with religious structures and ruins that date from the fifth and sixth century. Christianity arrived from the Eastern Roman Empire through Armenia, bringing with it literacy and a unique alphabet and script.

Georgian Christianity is similar to most of the other nations in the region. It is Orthodox, not aligned with the Latin Rite of Rome, and is a national church. A national church, in this context, is one that is associated with the individual nation, i.e. Greek Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Georgian Orthodox. It survived the Russian conquest and the Communist era.

Among the sites in Georgia that illustrate the long history of Christianity in that nation are the monastery and cathedral of Alaverdi and the monastery of Ikalto. Both sites are located in Eastern Georgia, near the town of Telavi.

Alaverdi monastery. copyright 2010 by Tamari Shermadini, all rights reserved

The province of Kakheti, where these sites are located, was once an independent kingdom. Its natives speak a dialect of Georgian. Its border to the east and south is with the nation of Azerbaijan and is disputed in many areas. It is a popular tourist destination for Georgians and its international appeal is growing.

The monastery and cathedral of Alaverdi are in the village of the same name. The monastery dates to the sixth century in parts and the cathedral to the eleventh. The cathedral is 55 meters tall, over 165 feet, and is the second tallest religious structure in Georgia after the national cathedral.

Alaverdi. copyright 2010 by Tamari Shermadini, all rights reserved

The cathedral is on the tentative list to become a World Heritage Site. It is being so considered for its architecture and design which are uniquely Georgian.

In the same region is the monastery of Ikalto. Burned by Persian invaders in 1616, it had been the site of a renowned Academy for about 500 years. There are three churches among the ruins of the Academy.

Ikalto monastery. copyright 2010 by Tamari Shermadini, all rights reserved

Ikalto monastery. copyright 2010 by Tamari Shermadini, all rights reserved

copyright 2010 by Tamari Shermadini, all rights reserved

copyright 2010 by Tamari Shermadini, all rights reserved

The following article was written by Tamari, a young Georgian woman, and is exclusive to America’s North Shore Journal.

Situation in Georgia

The war in Georgia is over, and nowadays my country is engaged in an endless labyrinth of negotiations with Russia. Life is back to normal but it doesn’t mean that problems for Georgians are solved.

Unfortunately, after 4 months there is no actual result for Russians leaving Georgia. Thousands of refugees are coming from the occupied areas. Thanks to the subsidies from international organizations or other countries government manages to give them shelter and food. But it can’t alternate their home!

Russian troops are still standing in Georgian territories, checking each Georgian citizen who is trying to visit back to their places. God, I have to ask permission to Russian soldiers for letting me in my own village to see my grandparents! People who preferred not to leave their houses in the occupied territories are asked (or ordered) to get Russian passports.

Almost every day Russians are trying to get Georgia back to war with provocative actions. Couple days ago Abkhazian and Russian troops riddled Georgian posts near conflict areas. Russia is trying to use its influence and makes statement that it is against EU monitors in Georgian conflict areas.

Georgia was one of the fastest developing countries before the conflict. Investments were made in the country, the tourist sector was very successful, but Russian-Georgian war destroyed it all. And now it will take years to recover the damage.

Georgia is supposed to get over 4 billion as grants and long-term loans. The future of Georgia depends on effective usage and distribution of this money.

Hopefully with careful, wise management of subsidies and cooperation we’ll be able to get our country back!

Reuters:

The United States on Friday asserted its support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and urged an immediate cease-fire in Georgia’s rebel territory of South Ossetia, where Tbilisi tried to assert control and Russia sent in forces.

State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos also said the United States was sending an envoy to the region “to engage with the parties in the conflict.”

“We support Georgia’s territorial integrity and call for an immediate cease-fire. We urge all parties, including Georgians, South Ossetians and Russians to de-escalate and avoid conflict,” Gallegos said.

From the State Department’s notes on Georgia:

U.S.-Georgia relations continue to be close. Extensive U.S. assistance is targeted to support Georgia’s democratic, economic, and security reform programs, with an emphasis on institution-building and implementing lasting reforms. The United States has provided Georgia approximately $1.7 billion in assistance since 1991. On September 12, 2005, Georgia signed a compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation for a five-year $295.3 million assistance package. Information about U.S. assistance to Georgia can be found at http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/fs/66198.htm.

The United States works closely with Georgia to promote mutual security and counterterrorism interests. The United States provides Georgia with bilateral security assistance, including English-language and military professionalism training, through the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program. The multi-year Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP) ended in 2004, achieving its intended goals of enhancing Georgia’s military capability and stimulating military reform. Launched in January 2005, the Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program has advanced GTEP’s goals and trained the Georgian contingent participating in coalition operations in Iraq. Partnership with the Georgia (U.S.) National Guard, visits by the Sixth Fleet and the Coast Guard to Georgia, and the Bilateral Working Group on Defense and Military Cooperation are also important components of our security relationship with Georgia.

Promoting democracy and reform is another strategic pillar of our bilateral relationship with Georgia. In April 2006 the government passed a strong anti-trafficking-in-persons law. Since then, the government has taken further constructive steps to combat trafficking in persons. In 2007, Georgia moved up to the Tier 1 list, meaning that it fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Georgia has supplied troops to the Coalition in Iraq since 2003. It has run a number of units through rotations in Iraq and currently has a brigade in Wasit province. It is fair to state that it now has a sizable force trained and combat tested to use in any conflict with Russia.

Reuters:

South Ossetia, about 100 km (60 miles) north of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, broke away from Georgia in a 1991-92 war that killed several thousand people. It has close ties with the neighboring Russian region of North Ossetia.

The majority of the roughly 70,000 people living in South Ossetia are ethnically distinct from Georgians. They say they were forcibly absorbed into Georgia under Soviet rule and now want to exercise their right to self-determination.

Times Online:

Heavy fighting was reported early this morning in the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia after Georgian forces, backed by war planes, launched an assault on Russian-backed rebels.

The battles erupted shortly after President Saakashvili, of Georgia, made a dramatic appeal for a ceasefire after a day of heavy clashes that claimed at least 15 lives.

In a televised address, Mr Saakashvili offered “an immediate ceasefire and an immediate beginning of talks” with the separatist region. He repeated an offer of autonomy within Georgia, saying that he was willing to make Russia the guarantor of any agreement.

However, shortly before midnight, the Georgian Government announced that it had begun an “operation to restore constitutional order”. Witnesses said the night sky over Tskhinvali, the rebel region’s capital, was lit up by explosions.

Chicago Tribune:

Georgian troops launched a massive assault on the breakaway province of South Ossetia on Friday, taking control of much of the region and bringing Georgia’s U.S.-allied government closer to the brink of full-scale conflict with Russia.

Just hours after Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili declared a cease-fire with South Ossetian separatist troops, Georgian military forces unleashed a barrage of shelling on the province’s capital, Tskhinvali, late Thursday and early Friday. By the morning, Georgian tanks had entered the South Ossetian capital.

The assault put Georgia, a former Soviet republic strongly allied with Washington and Western Europe, on a collision course with the Kremlin, which for years has firmly backed South Ossetia in its resistance to Georgian authority.

Russia also has peacekeeping troops in South Ossetia, and Russian news agencies reported that some Russian soldiers had been killed and injured in the fighting. And most South Ossetians have been granted Russian citizenship.

According to Russian news agencies, a column of Russian tanks and military trucks were moving into South Ossetia. Georgian authorities reported that Russian military jets bombed several Georgian military installations.

The United States has over 100 members of the military in Georgia, training their military. We just completed a joint exercise with the Georgians and other regional allies.

Russia has encouraged minorities in a number of nations that have looked to the West for assistance. Moldova is a perfect example, where Russia maintains troops on Moldovan territory to this day.

The next few days will reveal what the Bush administration will do for an ally, and a valued member of the Coalition.