The history of Georgia stretches back unbroken for many thousands of years. Legend puts Georgia as being the Land of Colchis, where Jason went with his Argonauts to seek the Golden Fleece. It is said that this refers back to classical times when Georgia was known as a source of metal ores and people panned for gold by holding fleeces in the rivers to pick up small gold nuggets. Georgia's position as a crossroad between the continents of Europe and Asia, as well as its place on the ancient "Silk Road," has over the centuries created a unique culture. The Georgian tribes of old were gradually pulled together into small kingdoms, and as early as the sixth century BC they had become a significant political unit. Gelati, built by King David in the 12th century After successive invasions by the Persians, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire and the Arab Caliphate, Georgia became truly united in the tenth to twelfth centuries. This period is seen as the Golden Age when it flourished under King David, the Builder and Queen Tamar. This period was particularly a time of great architectural and artistic activity. Many of the churches and cathedrals that we will see were built during this period. It was also the age when Georgia's national poet, Shota Rustaeli wrote the great Georgian epic, The Knight in the Panther Skin. Georgia became one of the most powerful states in the Near East during this period, but invasions by the Mongols, under Tamerlaine, caused it disintegration by the end of the fifteenth century. In the late 1700's the Russian tsars began their expansion in the direction of the Middle East. In 1783 Georgia was forced to become a Russian protectorate, and by 1801 it was fully absorbed into the Russian Empire. Despite initial opposition, this move saw a new flowering of the Georgian language and culture. Tbilisi became its natural center with an opera house and university making the country a source of inspiration for the rest of the Russian Empire. Prompted by writers of the time such as: Tolstoy, Mayakovsky, Puskin, Lemontocv and others, many more flocked south to the country south of the Caucasus Mountains, inspired and seduced by Georgia's hospitality and Mediterranean climate. By the time of the Russian Revolution, Georgia had become a true cosmopolitan center intellectually, politically, artistically and commercially. After periods of independence and times of upheaval, Georgia finally joined the Soviet Union in 1921. It could be said that the Georgians of the period had more than a vested interest in their future, in that the man who took over the mantle of shaping and leading the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, was a Georgian. Born in Gori, a market town just north west of Tbilisi, Stalin, whose real name was Ioseb Jughashvili, did not learn to speak Russian until adulthood. Georgia occupied a privileged position during the years of the Soviet Union. It was a major producer of heavy industrial materials such as steel and glass, as well as tea, wine and citrus fruits. Additionally, it was one of the main centers of tourism, popular for it’s mountains and skiing and it's beautiful resorts along the Black Sea. It attracted record numbers of holiday makers and vacationers from throughout the Soviet Union. Not only did Georgia boast a high standard of living and culture, it also enjoyed one of the highest levels of education in the world. With the inevitable collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgians were among the first countries to demand independence in 1991. The 1990's were a period of great turmoil for Georgia with several years of "Civil War" and ongoing struggles with the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  The decade of the 90's have seen the country deteriorate into one of the poorest in the world. However, undeterred, the Georgian people have forged ahead with their hopes and dreams fixed firmly on the future. With a new president, they are working to successfully regenerate their economy to create an nation where, once again, they will be able to extend their traditional welcome to their visitors. Religion Georgia, in the 4th century, was one of the first nations to adopt Christianity as their national religion. Since adopting Christianity, the Georgian Orthodox Church has been the mainstay and focus for the Georgian people and their nation throughout their turbulent history. Today, the Church still plays an important role in modern society. Traditionally, St. Nino, as holy slave girl is said to have cured the Iberian Queen Nana's daughter of a strange illness, thus gaining her confidence with the Queen's family. Later, Nana's husband, King Mirian, was subsequently converted during a hunting trip when he suddenly became blind. He called upon the Christian God who restored his sight. This led to his declaring Christianity as the national religion. The distinctive shape of the Georgian Orthodox Cross is also known as St. Nino's cross. Legend has it that upon entering Georgia she took two grape vine branches and tied them together, with a strand of her hair, to form the shape of a cross. The heat and humidity of the country caused to arms of the cross to droop giving the cross its unique shape. The Georgians, for the most part, are Orthodox Christians with about 65% being Georgian Orthodox and 10% being Russian Orthodox. About 11%, mostly in the southwest, particularly in Adjaria and Baturmi, are Muslim. There are also small, but vocal pockets of Catholics and Protestants, as well as, congregations belonging to other Orthodox churches (Armenian, Russian and Ukrainian.) While there a some Jewish people in Georgia, most have emigrated to Israel in recent years. Aside from churches, you may discover a few Mosques or synagogues in the country. The Bagrati Cathedral, built in the 12th centuryThe churches and monasteries have always played an important part in the development of the Georgian people and state. Although the Soviets and demands of modern times have greatly undermined its power and influence, the church still makes its presence felt through the stunning religious buildings perched on mountain tops throughout the country. Of particular significance are the churches or cathedrals of Jvari, the Living Pillar (Svetitskhoveli) at Mtskheta, Gelati, near Kutaisi and the ruins of the cathedral at Bagrati that has become symbol of perseverance and hope. Every church will have an up-to-date calendar of the year's religious feast days and holy days. The most important festivals are Easter and Christmas, just as in the West. Note: The Orthodox calendar currently runs about thirteen days later than the western religious calendar. Anyone is allowed to enter a church, however it is recommended that women not wear low-necked dresses, shorts or bathing suits. Women do not usually enter the church bareheaded, therefore, visiting foreign women should carry a scarf or hat that can be put on when entering a church.