Temples of Georgia

In 326, Tsar Mirian III appealed to the Roman Emperor Constantine and Queen Elena with a request to send a bishop from Constantinople to baptize Georgians in the waters of the Kura. Christianity was declared the state religion of Georgia. It became one of the first countries in the world to adopt Christianity at the state level. In the Roman Empire itself, this happened only in 380.

Ancient Christian churches, which have world cultural value, have been preserved in Georgia. In this review on online travel guide Geomerid you can read about Georgian Christian churches:

1.   Jvari Monastery (Mtskheta)
2.   Sveti Tskhoveli Temple (Mtskheta)
3.   Samtavro Monastery (Mtskheta)
4.   Gelati Monastery (Kutaisi)
5.   Bagrati Temple (Kutaisi)
6.   Metekhi Temple (Tbilisi)
7.   Holy Trinity Monastery (Daryal)
8.   Assumption Monastery in Vardzia
9.   Zion Cathedral (Tbilisi)
10.   Tsminda Sameba Temple (Tbilisi)

1. Jvari Monastery (Mtsheta)

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 Jvari temple was built on the very edge of the cliff on the spot where Saint Nina installed a wooden cross in 326

The altar in the temple of Jvari is located in the center and a cross is placed on it, in memory of the Cross that Saint Nina installed

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 (Mtsheta)

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".

Svetitskhoveli temple, means Life-Giving pillar - the main Shrine of the Georgian Church

Stone pavilion around the Life-Giving Pillar in the Svetitskhoveli Temple in Mtskheta

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 (Mtsheta)

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.

The Transfiguration Cathedral in the Samtavro monastery in Mtskheta was built in the 11th century

Graves of king Marian III and Queen Nana, who converted to Christianity in Georgia, in the Samtavro monastery

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.

4. Gelati Monastery (Kutaisi)

Gelati Monastery is located 8 kilometers northeast of the center of Kutaisi. Gelati Monastery has been the spiritual center of Georgia and the residence of the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church for several centuries. In 1994, UNESCO included the Gelati Monastery in the List of World Cultural Heritage.

West Gates and Churches of the Gelati Monastery in Kutaisi

Mosaic panel of the Virgin of the 12th century above the altar of the Cathedral of the Virgin Nativity in the Gelati Monastery

The Gelati monastery was founded by the Georgian Tsar David IV the Builder in 1106. In those years, it was a fortress with a double ring of walls. Part of the walls has been preserved to this day. In 1125, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin was built in the center of the Gelati Monastery.

5. Bagrati Temple (Kutaisi)

The majestic Bagrati Temple rises above Kutaisi on the top of the Ukimerioni Mountain above the Rioni River. It is one of the most interesting sights not only of Kutaisi, but also of the whole of Georgia. Bagrati Temple was founded by Tsar Bagrati III in 1003. For the 11th century, the construction of such a huge temple required high skill of builders.

The Bagrati Temple in Kutaisi was founded by Tsar Bagrati III in 1003

Interior of the restored Bagrati Temple in Kutaisi

Officially, the Bagrati Temple is called the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin, but everyone calls it "Bagrati". There is also a Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin in Tbilisi, but everyone calls it the Metekhi Temple. An ancient belfry has been preserved near Bagrati. At its foot there is an viewing point with a wonderful view of Kutaisi.

6. Metekhi Temple (Tbilisi)

Metekhi Temple is the oldest Christian church in Tbilisi. It was founded in the 5th century, but the 13th century temple has survived to this day. It is located on a rock rising on the right bank of the Kura River. On the left bank, opposite the Metekhi Temple, there is the rocky hill of Sulalaki, where the ancient citadel – fortress of Narikala rises.

View of the Metekhi Temple from the Wine descent in the center of Tbilisi

View of the Metekhi Temple from the Narikala Fortress in Tbilisi

Officially, the first temple on the rock, on the banks of the Kura River, is called the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, but everyone calls it the Metekhi Temple. The word comes from the Greek "Metochus", which means "the location of the church". The name Metekhi was given not only to the temple, but also to the entire historical center of Tbilisi on the right bank of the Kura. The relics of Saint Shushanik have been located in the Metekhi Temple since the 5th century.

7. Holy Trinity Gergeti (Daryal)

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity Gergeti is located on a mountain above the village of Stepantsminda in the Daryal Gorge. It is clearly visible against the background of Mount Kazbek. Previously, it was possible to get to it only on foot or by SUV, but in 2018 a nice road was laid to the Gergeti monastery. This place is called one of the most beautiful in Georgia.

Trinity Church of the 14th century in the Gergeti Monastery against the backdrop of the mountains of the Daryal gorge

The Church of the Holy Trinity Gergeti has been preserved from the 14th century to the present day without changes

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti has a traditional cross-domed structure for Georgian Orthodox churches. It was practically not rebuilt and has been preserved from the 14th century to the present day without changes. There is a bell tower next to the Trinity Church. Ancient bas-reliefs and ornaments have been preserved on the walls of the church and the bell tower.

8. Assumption Monastery in Vardzia

In 1184, by order of Queen Tamara, the Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin was founded in the central part of Vardzia. Now it is the main attraction of the Underground city of Vardzia. Unique frescoes of the 13th century have been preserved in the main temple of the monastery. Their good preservation is connected with the attack of the Turks on the monastery in 1587. They took everything of value, and the rest was simply burned in the main temple. The smoke from the fire heavily blackened the frescoes, and they were preserved for several centuries.

View of the caves of the Assumption Monastery (12th century) in the Cave settlement of Vardzia

Halls of the cave temple of the Assumption Monastery in the Cave settlement of Vardzia

Christian frescoes of the 13th century in the cave temple of the Assumption Monastery in the Cave settlement of Vardzia

The monastery in the Vardzia caves was restored only in 1857, when Georgia was already part of the Russian Empire. In Soviet times, the Assumption Monastery was abolished, but in 1989 monks settled here again and services began to be held. At the entrance to the monastery, tourists in shorts are asked to respect monks and put on cloaks that lie at the entrance.

Read more about Assumption Monastery in Vardzia

9. Zion Cathedral (Tbilisi)

Zion Cathedral is one of the main Orthodox churches in Tbilisi and throughout Georgia. Before the construction of the monumental Tsminda Sameba Temple in Tbilisi, it was the main cathedral of Tbilisi. The main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church remains Sveti Tskhoveli in Mtskheta. Zion Cathedral is located in the center of the Old City of Tbilisi near the embankment of the Kura River.

Zion Cathedral was founded in the 6th century, but during the invasions of enemies it was often destroyed

The Cross of Saint Nina, the main relic of the Georgian Orthodox Church, is kept in the Zion Cathedral in Tbilisi

Zion Cathedral was founded one of the first, after the transfer of the capital to Tbilisi. Its construction in the 6th century was started by Guram I, the heir of King Vakhtang I Gorgasal. Residential quarters of the old city of Tbilisi began to settle down and develop around the Zion Cathedral.

10. Tsminda Sameba Temple (Tbilisi)

Translated from Georgian, Tsminda Sameba Cathedral means the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. This name is quite common among the temples of the Georgian Orthodox Church. For example, in the Daryal Gorge, the Tsminda Sameba Gergetis temple has been preserved since the 14th century, which is located on a mountain at the foot of Mount Kazbek.

The Cathedral of Tsminda Sameba (Holy Trinity) in Tbilisi is the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church

The vaults of Tsminda Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi

Tsminda Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi was built recently. Its construction began in 1995, and the church was consecrated in 2004. Tsminda Sameba Cathedral became the second main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The main temple of Georgia since the 11th century for ten centuries is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta.