About Sights – Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi
Designed by architect Archil Mindiashvili and constructed between 1995 and 2004, the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Georgian: თბილისის წმინდა სამების საკათედრო ტაძარი) is commonly known as Sameba (Georgian: სამება for Trinity) and is the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world. The Sameba Cathedral is located on Elia Hill, which rises above the left … Continue reading
About Events – The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi
The Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Hundred Thousand Martyrs (Georgian: ასი ათასი მოწამე) on 13 November each year. The Martyrs were put to death by Sultan Jalal al-Din of Khwarazm for not renouncing Christianity following his capture of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in 1226. The Metekhi Bridge is traditionally considered to have been the … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Mariamoba
August 28 is Mariamoba (Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin) (Georgian: მარიამობა) in Georgia. It is one of the greatest holy days and Orthodox Christians will visit a church, pray and light candles. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of … Continue reading
About Achievements – Restoration of Kvetera Church
Kvetera Church (Georgian: კვეტერის ეკლესია) is located on the top of a hill within the remaining fragments of the walls of Kvetera Fortress near the town of Akhmeta, in Kakheti region. Built in the early part of the 10th century, it is a relatively small church built of local tuffa stone to a tetraconch design (four-apse cross … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Saint Andrew’s Day
May 12 is an official holiday in Georgia and marks the day that the Apostle Andrew the First-Called arrived in Georgia, in present-day Ajara region. St. Andrew was the first of the apostles of Jesus Christ. The church tradition of Georgia regards St. Andrew as the first preacher of Christianity in Georgia and as the founder … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Dyeing Eggs Red for Orthodox Easter
On Good Friday, Orthodox Christians in Georgia dye hard boiled eggs a red color using the root of the Madder plant and onion peel. The eggs represent the blood of Christ and are placed on green wheat grass, which symbolizes new life, resurrection, and eternity. The eggs are blessed in a church and on Easter … Continue reading
About Sights – Samtavisi Cathedral
Samtavisi (Georgian: სამთავისი) is an eleventh-century Georgian Orthodox cathedral in the region of Shida Kartli. Heavily damaged by a series of earthquakes, the cathedral was partially reconstructed in the 15th and 19th centuries. Built in 1030 by the architect Ilarion Samtavneli, the cathedral is remarkable for the beauty of its proportions and refinement of carving on the … Continue reading
About Celebrations – ‘Svetitskhovloba’
On October 14, the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrated ‘Svetitskhovloba’. The celebration pays homage to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (Georgian: სვეტიცხოველი) in the old capital of Mtskheta (Georgian: მცხეთა). The cathedral stands on the site chosen by St. Nino as the place for the first church in Georgia and its name means “Life Giving Pillar”. Situated at the … Continue reading
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