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Metekhi Church is one of the most iconic historical landmarks in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Perched on a cliff on the banks of the Mtkvari Kura River, overlooking the Old Town, this church offers both spiritual significance and stunning views. The original church was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Vakhtang I Gorgasali, who, according to legend, also founded Tbilisi. However, the site had previously served as a royal fortress and palace. Over the centuries, the church was destroyed and rebuilt several times, especially during invasions by foreign powers such as the Mongols. The current structure dates mainly from the 13th century. Metekhi Church is built in a typical medieval Georgian style, with a cruciform plan and a dome. The design is simple yet elegant, with solid stone walls and an austere appearance, in keeping with the ancient Georgian church architecture. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Metekhi has strong religious and national symbolism. In addition to being a church, it was also an important place in Georgian history, as it served as a royal residence and a refuge for the population during wars. In addition, the site was used as a prison by the Russians in the 19th century, which made the location even more loaded with historical significance. In front of the church, there is a large statue of King Vakhtang I Gorgasali on horseback, the founder of Tbilisi. This statue reinforces the historical significance of the site. Today, Metekhi Church is a popular tourist destination and an active religious center, where visitors can experience the rich history of Tbilisi and enjoy panoramic views of the city.
Perched high on a cliff overlooking the Mtkvari River, the Metekhi Church in Tbilisi is one of the city’s most historic sites. Towering over the Old Town, surrounded by the serene atmosphere of the small park and the stately row of cypress trees at the back, the tranquil ambiance allows visitors to delve into the rich history of this place. Amidst these cypresses, which stand like silent sentinels, walks an elderly woman dressed in black and a headscarf, a faithful visitor to the church. She follows the narrow path, observing the subdued silence, her gaze directed towards the church entrance. Her slow, deliberate steps seem to reflect the centuries-old tradition of devotion and faith. A sacred place where spirituality and history come together.
De Metekhi Kerk is een van de meest iconische historische bezienswaardigheden van Tbilisi, de hoofdstad van Georgië. Deze kerk ligt op een klif aan de oevers van de rivier de Mtkvari Kura, met uitzicht op de oude stad, en biedt zowel spirituele betekenis als een prachtig uitzicht. De oorspronkelijke kerk werd gebouwd in de 12e eeuw tijdens de regering van koning Vakhtang I Gorgasali die volgens de legende ook Tbilisi stichtte. De locatie diende echter eerder al als een koninklijk fort en paleis. Door de eeuwen heen werd de kerk meermaals verwoest en herbouwd, vooral tijdens invasies van buitenlandse mogendheden, zoals de Mongolen. De huidige structuur dateert voornamelijk uit de 13e eeuw. De Metekhi Kerk is gebouwd in een typische middeleeuwse Georgische stijl, met een kruisvormige plattegrond en een koepel. Het ontwerp is eenvoudig maar elegant, met stevige stenen muren en een sobere uitstraling, passend bij de eeuwenoude Georgische kerkarchitectuur. De kerk is gewijd aan de Maagd Maria. Metekhi heeft een sterke religieuze en nationale symboliek. Het was niet alleen een kerk, maar ook een belangrijke plek in de Georgische geschiedenis, omdat het diende als koninklijke residentie en een toevluchtsoord voor de bevolking tijdens oorlogen. Daarnaast werd de plek in de 19e eeuw door de Russen gebruikt als gevangenis, wat de locatie nog meer beladen maakte met historische betekenis. Tussen deze cipressen, die als stille wachters staan, loopt een oudere vrouw, gekleed in zwarte kleren en een hoofddoek, een trouwe bezoeker van de kerk. Ze volgt het smalle pad, de ingetogen stilte in acht nemend, terwijl haar blik richting de ingang van de kerk is gericht. Haar langzame, bedachtzame stappen lijken de eeuwenoude traditie van toewijding en geloof te weerspiegelen .Een heilige plek waar spiritualiteit en historie samenkomen.
photo rights reserved by Ben
The St. Gabriel the Archangel Church is located in Stepantsminda, a picturesque village in northern Georgia, at the foot of the imposing Mount Kazbek. The church is not only a historical monument, but also a very active place of worship for the locals, providing a spiritual refuge for the faithful who gather here for services, prayers and religious celebrations. The church features traditional Georgian Orthodox architecture, with stone walls and a red roof, typical of many churches in the region. The small cemetery next to it adds to the historical and spiritual significance of the place, where generations of locals have found their final resting place. Stepantsminda is located at an altitude of approximately 1,750 metres and is surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and vast valleys. The village is an important junction on the Georgian Military Highway, the historic trade route connecting Georgia with Russia. Despite its increasing popularity among travellers, Stepantsminda has managed to retain its authentic and peaceful character. The area is also popular with hikers and mountaineers looking for adventurous routes in the Caucasus.
In the shadow of the imposing Greater Caucasus, the St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Stepantsminda stands as both a religious center and a symbol of the community’s resilience and faith. Pilgrims and travelers visiting the region are often moved by its serene atmosphere and the deep devotion of the local people.
De St. Gabriel the Archangel Church ligt in Stepantsminda, een schilderachtig dorp in het noorden van Georgië, aan de voet van de imposante Kazbek-berg. De kerk is niet alleen een historisch monument, maar ook een zeer actieve gebedsplaats voor de lokale bevolking en biedt een spiritueel toevluchtsoord voor gelovigen die hier samenkomen voor diensten, gebeden en religieuze vieringen. De kerk heeft een traditionele Georgisch-orthodoxe architectuur, met stenen muren en een rood dak, wat typerend is voor veel kerken in de regio. Het kleine kerkhof ernaast draagt bij aan de historische en spirituele betekenis van de plek, waar generaties van lokale inwoners hun laatste rustplaats hebben gevonden. Stepantsminda ligt op ongeveer 1.750 meter hoogte en wordt omringd door ruige bergtoppen en uitgestrekte valleien. Het dorp is een belangrijk knooppunt op de Georgian Military Highway, de historische handelsroute die Georgië met Rusland verbindt. Ondanks de toegenomen populariteit onder reizigers, heeft Stepantsminda zijn authentieke en rustige karakter weten te behouden. Het gebied is ook geliefd bij wandelaars en bergbeklimmers die op zoek zijn naar avontuurlijke routes in de Kaukasus.
we are stardust
we are golden
and we've got to get ourselves back to the Garden
joni mitchell, 1969
*
Caminho Francês: Entre Torres del Rio e Viana. Peregrinação marcada por paisagens inspiradoras e passagens históricas. Cada passo uma jornada, cada vista uma bênção.
photo rights reserved by Ben
The Natlismtsemeli Monastery lies in the semi-desert borderlands between Georgia and Azerbaijan and is part of the larger David Gareja complex, founded in the 6th century. To this day, it is still inhabited by a small number of monks. From here, an impressive and empty landscape unfolds — a vast stretch of dry hills and deep ravines, where silence and time seem to merge. High on a windswept ridge overlooking the border plain stands a solitary pilgrim’s cross — a quiet sign of faith for those approaching the remote monastery. Below it, partly hidden in the hillside, a dark opening marks a forgotten past: a hermit’s cell carved into the rock, later used as a shelter in times of conflict, and possibly as a storage space. From this ridge, the view extends endlessly across ochre-colored hills and winding dirt paths. The land appears untouched by time — vast, quiet, and marked only by the tracks of shepherds and pilgrims. In this rugged emptiness, every carved-out cave and every simple cross takes on deeper meaning: silent witnesses to devotion, surrender, and centuries of monastic life.
The Natlismtsemeli Monastery, part of the ancient David Gareja complex, stands in Georgia’s remote borderlands. Surrounded by barren hills and silence, it’s still home to a few monks. A pilgrim’s cross on a nearby ridge and a carved cave below hint at centuries of solitude, faith, and survival in this stark, timeless landscape.
Het Natlismtsemeli-klooster ligt in het halfwoestijnachtige grensgebied tussen Georgië en Azerbeidzjan en maakt deel uit van het grotere David Gareja-complex, dat in de 6e eeuw werd gesticht. Tot op de dag van vandaag wordt het bewoond door een klein aantal monniken. Vanaf deze plek strekt zich een indrukwekkend, leeg landschap uit van droge heuvels en diepe kloven — een plek waar stilte en tijd lijken samen te vallen. Hoog op een winderige heuvelrug, uitkijkend over de grensvlakte, staat een eenzaam pelgrimskruis – een stil teken van geloof voor wie het afgelegen klooster nadert. Daaronder, half verscholen in de heuvelwand, markeert een donkere opening een vergeten verleden: een kluizenaarscel uitgehouwen in de rots, later gebruikt als schuilplaats in tijden van gevaar, en mogelijk ook als opslagruimte. Vanaf deze plek ontvouwt zich een eindeloos uitzicht over okerkleurige heuvels en kronkelende zandwegen. Het landschap lijkt onaangetast door de tijd – uitgestrekt, stil en slechts getekend door het spoor van herders en pelgrims. In deze ruige leegte krijgt elke uitgehouwen grot en elk eenvoudig kruis een diepere betekenis: als stille getuigen van toewijding, overgave en eeuwenlang monastiek leven.
heartspirit swimming the cosmos to find her child
≈
when i die, i shall swim and swim until i find you
i will not look for God first but for you
when i find you, i shall kiss and kiss you
then we will seek God together
and She will understand
**
heartspirit swimming the heavens to find her child ≈
though it feels like it happened yesterday, its been 52 sundays since the night precious lulu had to fly away ~*~
and tomorrow night november 2nd it is the full circle of one year ..
child, bodhisattva and soulmate ~ all in One being *
thought i must've lived a thousand lives to, in this one, be given such a blessèd Gift as lulu!
to've had this magnificent soul right here next to me, as close as a heartbeat, for so many years ... (it felt like a waking dream.. yet it was real ;)
when lulu passed it was losing my very heart.
its not that i didn't know she had to go. i did know.
she came in a dog costume, after all ..
it was how it happened.
that despite every precaution, she suffered. and that somehow i was not right there with her at the very moment of her passage.
(those who Knew lulu best say she planned it this way. yet for me it felt unbearable.)
have worked hard to try to reconcile and re-envision this .. so to honor our lulu *
to find my heart again, and my way.
even so, the truth is - there's not been a single day since lulu's passage that i thought i could make it through this circle of a year
You and your true lovingkindness have been a saving grace
more than you will ever know
thank you forever for this
often i wish/imagine that You had known lulu also in the physical .. touched her soft ears, talked with her and frolicked in the ocean with her!
and so wish she had known You this way too ;)
yet of this am positive .. lulu knows you and you know lulu in the most sacred of ways..
by Heart
≈❤≈
Hie Shrine, nestled in Tokyo's Akasaka district, is celebrated for its serene beauty and vibrant red torii gates that create a captivating "torii tunnel" leading down its stone staircase. This tunnel of torii gates is a unique feature of Hie Shrine, echoing the famous paths of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. The bright red gates, inscribed with calligraphy, contrast beautifully against the lush greenery surrounding the path, symbolizing the transition from the secular world to the sacred. Each gate represents a donation from worshippers, creating a physical and spiritual connection with the shrine’s visitors.
As you descend the steps through the torii tunnel, you experience a sense of tranquility that makes it easy to forget the bustling city nearby. The arrangement of these torii gates not only enhances the shrine’s spiritual atmosphere but also provides an immersive visual experience, attracting photographers and travelers seeking authentic Japanese culture.
Dating back to the Edo period, Hie Shrine has a long-standing connection with Tokyo’s history. It serves as a sanctuary for those seeking blessings for family and prosperity. The shrine is also known for hosting the Sannō Matsuri, one of Tokyo’s major festivals, which brings life to these grounds every June with colorful processions and festivities.
Hie Shrine’s torii tunnel is a must-see for visitors to Tokyo. Whether you’re interested in experiencing traditional Japanese spirituality, capturing stunning photos, or simply enjoying a peaceful escape within the city, the torii path at Hie Shrine offers a timeless blend of beauty and cultural heritage that leaves a lasting impression.
Beneath gray Galician skies, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela rises like a weathered crown of stone. Every scar on its façade whispers of centuries of pilgrims, storms, and prayers carved into history. The rain-slicked square and the worn steps remind us that this is not just architecture, but a vessel of faith, endurance, and time itself. A gritty soul lingers in the details — baroque grandeur softened by centuries of wind and devotion.
I was on an sacred inner journey when this was created... it was given to me as a gift from the Universe.
This can also be used as a texture.
Ok to use for your private artwork but NOT for commercial use nor resale. Please do not use my stock to make other stock.
If used, please credit me with a link back to THIS page and a small sample of your work. Thanks!
*** I'd love it if you'd post your artwork to my group Temari's Galactic Studio. ***
AwardTree challenge #37 - Sculptural Treatment.
For the Textures Only competition #56 - Shiva.
Original image by Krossbow. Thank you.
Texture ripples in the purple universe, mine.
Rose picture, mine.
Brushes by www.obsidiandawn.com
"I weave your name on the loom of my mind.
To make my garment when you come to me.
My loom has ten thousand threads
To make my garment when you come to me.
The sun and moon watch while I weave your name.
These are the wages I get by day and night
To deposit in the lotus bank of my heart.
I weave your name on the loom of my mind
To clean and soften ten thousand threads
And to comb the twists and knots of my thoughts.
No more shall I weave a garment of pain.
For you have come to me, drawn by my weaving,
Ceaselessly weaving your name on the loom of my mind."
--Kabir in "God Makes the Rivers to FLow" edited by Eknath Easwaran
"Never forget God. Never forget your real source. Never move away from the real center in you."
--Amma
"When you constantly remember God, forgetting all about the world, you will attain peace and self-contentment."
--Amma
“When your name rests upon my lips, sweetness enriches the edge of my soul, letter by letter.”
—Michal Mahgerefteh. from Sacred Journey, April/May 2007
"Pray without ceasing"
--1 Thesalonians
This is painting 8 of 8, project 1. I was listening to David Lanz "Sacred Road". We arranged all 8 paintings on an 11 X 14 sheet, folded it into 8 parts and slit it partway down the center to make a booklet of our paintings.
To listen to music: www.rhapsody.com/david-lanz/sacred-road-revisited
This journey of life
musical chords, songs,
blooming flowers,
resounding at regular intervals
in rhythm to Divine heartbeat
like musical punctuation marks
providing support
an invisible shoulder
adding cheer
bring healing tears
giving comfort
coming when I need it
like Living Water
a gift from Spirit