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OUR HOUSE
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OUR HOUSE |
The story of Germans in Russia had its beginning in 1763 while Catherine II the Great, a former German princess of the principality of Anhalt-Zerbst, was Empress of Russia. The Czarina found herself in possession of large tracts of virgin land along the lower course of the Volga River in Russia. Catherine was determined to turn this region into productive, agricultural land as well as to populate the area as a protective barrier against the nomadic Asiatic tribes who inhabited the region.
According to history, in 1763, Catherine the Great proclaimed open immigration for foreigners wishing to live in the Russian Empire. In 1803, grandson of Catherine the Great, Tsar Alexander I reissued her proclamation. In the chaos of the Napoleonic wars, the response from Germans was enormous. German immigration was motivated in part by religious intolerance and warfare in central Europe as well as by frequently difficult economic conditions. The declaration freed German immigrants from military service and from most taxes. Moving to Russia gave German immigrants political rights that they would not have possessed in their own lands. Religious minorities found these terms very agreeable, particularly Mennonites from the Vistula River valley. Their unwillingness to participate in military service, and their long tradition of dissent from mainstream Lutheranism and Calvinism, made life under the Prussians very difficult for them. Nearly all of the Prussian Mennonites immigrated to Russia over the following century ... These rights and privileges offered a chance for a better life and many thousands of people emigrated to Russia from the Germanic states and principalities of Central Europe. The reasons that so many Germanic people took up this Russian offer were many. The Seven Years' War had just ended in 1763. Whole regions in Germany lay devastated and poverty was widespread. Many Germans emigrated at this time to other lands, including the New World, in order to make a new start in life. The manifesto was translated into several European languages and was distributed through Russian diplomatic agents in European countries and published them in local newspapers. According to German historian and publicist August Ludwig von Schlözer (1735-1809) it was «das Laufen und Rennen nach Russland» (Real racing to Russia). The story of the house of Catharsis takes its beginning in 1910. The author of the project is famous architect Alexander Ozerov (1849-1922) who was City Architect of Tiflis City Government in the years of 1879-85. The following architectural masterpieces are among the many other beautiful architectural works, to name but a few: House of A. Chavchavadze in Tsinandali (1886-87), Renovation of Abanotubani (1880), 3rd Girls’ Gymnasium of Tbilisi (1905), Post Office in Tbilisi (1910), Palace Hotel in Tbilisi (1914). |
Agmashenebeli Avenue 121
Historical Monument of Cultural Heritage
According to the registry of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, 41 architectural constructions situated at Agmashenebeli Avenue are possessing the Status of Historical Monument of Cultural Heritage of Georgia, and the one of these beautiful buildings is the house of Catharsis. (Registration date 11.10.2007, Passport of the Registration Card #010103279). |
Located at former Mikhail Avenue (Agmashenebeli Avenue) this remarkable building belonged to one of the well-known German families Vohrer. The company known as Vohrer Brothers (Gebrüder Vohrer) was the one of the biggest businesses not just in Caucasus but in the entire Russian Empire as well.
Vohrer Brothers possessed large areas of vineyards, large productions of wine, cognac and beer, mills and horse breeding farms. The Vohrer Brothers’ Trading House had branches and stores in Tbilisi and Baku as well as in Saint-Petersburg, Moscow, Kiev, Odessa, Ashkhabad, Tomsk Krasnovodsk and other large cities of Russia. Their wines and cognacs were presented at many international trade fairs since 1894 and always were getting many grand-prix awards and golden medals... in London (1897), Hamburg (1898), Magdeburg (1899), Paris (1900) and in many other European cities.
Vohrer Brothers possessed large areas of vineyards, large productions of wine, cognac and beer, mills and horse breeding farms. The Vohrer Brothers’ Trading House had branches and stores in Tbilisi and Baku as well as in Saint-Petersburg, Moscow, Kiev, Odessa, Ashkhabad, Tomsk Krasnovodsk and other large cities of Russia. Their wines and cognacs were presented at many international trade fairs since 1894 and always were getting many grand-prix awards and golden medals... in London (1897), Hamburg (1898), Magdeburg (1899), Paris (1900) and in many other European cities.
As a result of an extensive restoration and renovation of the old town's districts, the 3-storey house of Catharsis with 2200 sq.m. total area was not only transformed completely but has also acquired an additional French-roof type floor with the total area of 600 sq. m. The entire floor of mansard (French-roof) is considered to be a facility for the Union’s newly launched hospice project.
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The building of Catharsis Union is the one of the beautiful houses located at Agmashenebeli Avenue, town’s old district which used to be Neu Tiflis, the one of the 9 German colonies established in Caucasus in the early XIX century. Much of the area was built by German contractor Friederich Vetzel (1835-1904), the architectural projects was carried out by Tbilisi-based German architect Leopold Bielefeld (1838-1921) in the 1880-90s.
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Learn more about who we are and how we serve our beneficiaries. |
Membership is totally voluntary. It is important to always remember that by giving we get more than by receiving. |
Last year 160 people volunteered over 1050 hours ( = 6 Full Time Employees). |
A majority of our funding support comes from private donors like YOU. |
Catharsis is an independent charity organization (LEPL ID 201954466) registered in The Republic of Georgia
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© 2017 INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN UNION CATHARSIS
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