About Sights – Davit Gareja
Founded in the 6th century by St. David Garejeli, Davit Gareja (Georgian: დავითგარეჯის სამონასტრო კომპლექსი) is a Georgian Orthodox monastery complex located on the slopes of Mount Gareja in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock. Part of the … Continue reading
About Sights – Martvili Monastery
Martvili Monastery (Georgian: მარტვილის მონასტერი) is a monastic complex located in the village of Martvili in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. The hill on which it stands was a former pagan site associated with fertility and prosperity. The Martvili-Chkondidi Cathedral was constructed in the late 7th century on top of the roots of an enormous oak tree … Continue reading
About Sights – Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral
The Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition (Georgian: სიონის ღვთისმშობლის მიძინების ტაძარი) in Tbilisi was originally built in the 6th and 7th centuries but was subsequently destroyed by foreign invaders and reconstructed several times. The current church is based on a 13th-century version. Named after Mount Zion at Jerusalem, it is commonly known as the “Tbilisi … Continue reading
About Sights – Vanis Kvabebi Cave Monastery
Vanis Kvabebi (Georgian: ვანის ქვაბები) is a cave monastery in Samtskhe-Javakheti region near the more famous cave city of Vardzia. Begun in the eighth century, the monastery complex consists of 16 levels of cells, storerooms and stair tunnels. There are two churches in the complex, including a small domed church that clings to the rock … Continue reading
About Sights – Tsalenjikha Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of Savior
Built in the 12th-14th centuries, the Tsalenjikha Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of Savior (Georgian: წალენჯიხის მაცხოვრის ფერისცვალების საკათედრო ტაძარი) is located in the town of Tsalenjikha (Georgian: წალენჯიხა) in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. The cathedral is a central cross-domed church with a narthex (an entrance or lobby area typical of early Christian and Byzantine churches) … Continue reading
About Sights – Church of the Virgin Mary in Birkiani
The Georgian Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in the village of Birkiani in Akhmeta municipality in Georgia’s Kakheti region was built in the 8th-9th century but has decayed over time and little remains of the original stone construction. Trees have grown on top of the church making it look like it was purposely built in … Continue reading
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