Hita with a population of less than 20,000 is indeed a small town, but it is an ancient city with a history of more than 4,000 years. It was built in the bronze age of the Georgian dynasty, at the intersection of ancient trade roads and the confluence of two rivers. Throughout the history of human civilization, almost all civilizations are related to rivers. For example, the Ganges is a sacred river symbolizing India, and the Danube plays the blue melody of European civilization. The Tigris River and the Euphrates River are called the origins of the "two-river civilization". The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal bears the prosperity of a dynasty, and the flowing Yangtze River is Hemudu culture with a long history of 7,000 years.
Hita is another ancient city that was born by the river. It was once the capital of the Georgian dynasty. Until the 5th century, Wang and Georgia moved to Tbilisi, but it continued to perform its glory as a religious center, and it was also a holy place for Christianity in Georgia. The ancient city of Msheta follows the architectural style of 1 1 century church dome and cross plane, and is a classic example of medieval church architecture. As the witness of Georgian dynasty's art and culture, it plays a decisive role and represents one of the oldest civilizations in Transcaucasia. All of these, the ancient city of Msheta was listed in the World Cultural Heritage List in 1996, also known as "the hometown of Georgian soul".
It takes less than half an hour to drive from Tbilisi. The first thing to visit is the Jewari Church, which is not far from downtown Hita. It is located on the mountain where the Kula River and Aragwi River meet. Because it is the place where Sister Sannino first erected the cross in Georgia, it is also called Holy Cross Church.
At first, Divari Church erected a wooden cross, and its fame gradually increased. Believers from all over the Caucasus come here to worship. Later, the current building was built on the original site of the wooden cross, and it still followed the simple atmosphere at the beginning of its establishment. Compared with many magnificent churches, Divari Church is really a unique clean stream. The walls of the church have experienced many vicissitudes, and there are ruins everywhere. It's easier to walk in, and you can't see complicated carvings at all.
The church is small, dark and winding, but it is crowded with people, mainly local people. A bride in a white gauze looked back and smiled in candlelight, her eyes full of holiness. Sunlight shines on the huge wooden cross in the center of the church through the small window of the dome, which is sacred and solemn. Looking at the ancient church itself, the dim light seems to have settled in the past. Every stone has witnessed the story and revealed a mysterious light.
When I walked out of the church, I immediately admired the intention of choosing the church here. The open space outside the church has beautiful scenery and is an excellent place overlooking the town of Muzhota. Red roofs are scattered one by one. They are endless and surrounded by the pillars of the cathedral of life. The Kula River and Aragwi River with different water colors meet in a herringbone shape here. The Divari Church on the mountain and the Pillar of Life Cathedral at the foot shine in the distance, just like two eternal guardians, guarding the ancient city of Muzhota together.
Leave Divari Church and go directly to the ancient city of Mzhuota, which is very small and can be measured with both feet. The city is full of stone roads, and the stones on the roads are very smooth after years of tempering. The winding stone roads are old houses. They are either shops selling local products, secret gardens of wealthy families, or leisurely cafes, waiting for travelers from afar. These red-roofed houses with uneven terrain are like an intriguing melody played in the ancient city, which sings three sighs and stretches endlessly.
I had lunch in a restaurant in the ancient city, and I ordered all the local specialties. A cheese scone called "Khachapuri" is another national food in Georgia. There is a sun-shaped egg shaped like a boat. Take a bite, it's all thick cheese, it tastes salty and full of weight, and it's not as big as a fat man's appetite. It is impossible to eat alone.
Compared with cheese scones, skewers are a bigger challenge for China people. This is no longer the kebab in our memory. Every piece of meat is so solid that it may be more worthy of the name "barbecue block".
Undoubtedly, the core and soul of the ancient city of Mzhota is the Pillar of Life Cathedral, which is the second cathedral in Georgia, second only to Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, but historically, it is much older than Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. It was built at the peak of Georgian architecture in 1 1 century. For centuries, the coronation ceremony and burial ceremony of Georgian leaders have been held here, and there are many members of the Georgian royal family in the church.
According to legend, the robes after the crucifixion of Jesus were buried here, which gave the church itself a sacred atmosphere. This church is magnificent in appearance, and it is even more amazing when you step into it. Contrary to Divari Church, its internal stone carvings are exquisite and complicated, and the murals have not been abandoned after time polishing, but show more classical beauty.
Tourists come here to observe the pilgrimage in an endless stream. The church has a solemn atmosphere, and the air is filled with faint candles. The believers crossed their chests devoutly and prayed in a low voice. This indescribable touch can only be truly felt when they are around.
I don't know what a beautiful day it was. The church welcomed a wave of new people, who came here to hold a wedding. The bride wore white tulle and the groom accompanied her hand in hand. The priest who presided over the wedding was wearing a cloak and a high hat, muttering to himself, and the gods on the side silently looked down on all beings.
At the other end, a woman was baptized with her newborn, and the priest's eyes were slightly closed, as if he were doing some kind of prayer ... A lamp shone on the church, and the surrounding candlelight lit up the church. It seemed that we had returned to a certain day in the Middle Ages and had time to talk to God.
During the short period of 65,438+0 hours in the Pillar of Life Cathedral, there was an endless stream of worshippers, and a pious face seemed to be very powerful. At the same time, we were deeply infected and became calm and peaceful at that moment.
Later, when we sat in the cafe outside the church and watched the bustling tourists and focused on them, we found that the local people attending the wedding regarded the wedding as a fashion show.
Women, all with delicate makeup, are beautifully dressed, usually standing on stilettos, or wearing silk long skirts, striding slowly when the long skirts are swaying in the sun, or wearing decent off-the-shoulder dresses, showing a pair of long legs when the skirts are fluttering in the wind; Or wearing sunglasses and a long leather coat, full of heroic spirit; White, black, orange, rose red, sky blue, beige, pink purple ... all the colors you can imagine have been interpreted by Georgian women.
On the occasion of bidding farewell to the Musheta, looking back at the rolling mountains around, this thousand-year-old city surrounded by rivers and mountains exudes the breath of ancient civilization everywhere, but it also carries the beauty of today's fashion. Kula River and Aragwi River flow quietly through the ancient city, nourishing it. At the same time, with the change of time and the replacement of the sun and the moon, Msheta still stood by the river and walked silently for 4,000 years.