Dertavi  Monastery

Dertavi Monastery was a convent located in Jerusalem.

The exact location and the date of the monastery’s foundation are unknown. However, a few interesting pieces of information have been discovered in Jerusalem. In the catalog No. 65 of the collection of Georgian manuscripts preserved in the library of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, there is a 13th-century testament written by a Georgian nun, Duda Abazaisdze Tbeli, who resided at the monastery. From this document, it become known that the monastery was located in Jerusalem and was built in the name of John the Baptist.

The nuns of Dertavi were engaged in important literary activities. They were interested in the transcription of literary works and were also known to commission and acquire manuscripts. One religious compendium from the 13th century, copied by the scribe Basil Mchkhrekeli at the request of the nuns, has survived to this day. It contains an important inscription and is preserved in Jerusalem.

Literature: კ ე კ ე ლ ი ძ ე  კ., ეტიუდები ძველი ქართული ლიტერატურის ისტორიიდან, IV, თბ., 1957; ც ე რ ა ძ ე  თ., ახალი მონაცემები იერუსალიმის ქართული სამონასტრო კოლონიის შესახებ, «Academia», 5, 2003.

E. Mamistvalishvili