Temples of the Ancient capital Mtskheta

An excursion to the Ancient capital Mtskheta from Tbilisi is the most popular one-day route. Mtskheta is located 25 kilometers north of Tbilisi. Visiting the temples and monasteries of Ancient Mtskheta is a mandatory point of your trip to Georgia. Here are the most ancient Christian churches not only of Georgia, but also of the whole world.

There are three temples to visit in Mtskheta:
1. Jvari Monastery
2. Svetitskhoveli Temple
3. Samtavro Monastery

Moving north from Tbilisi to the north along Agmashenebeli Avenue, first cross the bridge to the opposite bank of the Kura River and climb the mountain, where the oldest Christian churches, the Jvari Monastery, is located. After descending from the mountain, then head to the main Temple of the Georgian Orthodox Church Svetitskhoveli. After that, go to the Samtavro Monastery. These three places must be visited.  After that, take a walk around the old town on the embankment, near the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers.

1. Jvari Monastery

Jvari monastery is located on a mountain that rises above the ancient capital of Georgia, city Mtskheta. King Marian III declared Christianity the state religion in 326. According to legend, The Holy equal-to-the-apostles Nina then erected a Cross on the edge of the mountain. The word "Jvari" means "Cross". 

The main temple of the Jvari monastery was built directly on the edge of the mountain in the period from 590 to 605. The temple is built in the form of a tetraconch. This design is typical of Byzantine temples of the early period. For Jvari, this construction is logical, since the tetraconch altar is located in the center. In Jvari, the altar of the temple is located on the spot where the Cross of Saint Nina stood. 

2.    Temple Svetitskhoveli

The temple of the Twelve Apostles Svetitskhoveli is located on the bank of the Kura river. It is the main Cathedral of the Georgian Church, its Shrine. The word "Svetitskhoveli" means "Life-Giving pillar". 

After the baptism in 326, king Mirian decided to build a Christian Church, and for this purpose, a cedar was cut down in his garden. The builders made 6 small pillars from cedar branches and 1 main pillar from its trunk. They were able to install 6 pillars, but could not move the main trunk. After that, pillar set itself exactly on the spot where Sidonia`s grave was, and began to flow myrrh. Therefore, it was called "Svetitskhoveli", the Life-Giving Pillar. The ancient buildings of the Svetitskhoveli temple expanded over time, and additional walls were added to them. The extant Cathedral was built in the period 1010-1029.

3.    Monastery Samtavro

Samtavro monastery is located on the site of the garden of king Mirian. In translation, Samtavro means "Royal territory". Here the king was baptized in 326, and then he declared Christianity the state religion of Georgia. 

Saint Nina was buried in 347 in the Bodbe monastery on the territory of Kakheti. After returning from her funeral, king Mirian began construction of the great Transfiguration Cathedral in the Samtavro monastery, which became a tomb for him. The Transfiguration Cathedral of the 11th century has been preserved to this day.