First, we visit The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi commonly known as Sameba is the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church located in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.

Sameba is the highest church in Georgia.  Cathedral was built with grandiose scope. Its golden dome is practically seen from any point in Tbilisi. The cathedral is part of the entire complex including residence of the Patriarch and a monastery, school of theology and academy, hotel and the complex consisting of nine chapels, five of which are located under the ground.

Metekhi Church is located in the historical district, on the left bank of the Mtkvari River. According to the historical sources, King Vakhtang Gorgasali built the church and a fortress here. It also served as a residence for Georgian kings. St. Shushanik is buried in Metekhi Church by King Gorgasali. She was killed by her fire worshipper husband because of the religion in the 5th century. 

Nowadays, Metekhi Church proudly stands in the Old Town, and there is a statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali as well, who is the founder of the city.

Sioni Cathedral is one of the most remarkable monuments of Georgian medieval architecture. It is located in Old Tbilisi. The name of the cathedral was in honor of the sacred Mount Zion in Jerusalem. 

Sioni Cathedral is of particular importance for Georgians because it is home to the sacred cross of St. Nino, a Cappadocian woman who preached Christianity in the Caucasus in the early 4th century.  According to legend, this cross was made of grapevine branches connected with each other by Saint Nino’s own hair. The cross is located behind the bronze lattice to the left of the iconostasis.

Until 2004, the Sioni Cathedral was the residence of the Catholicos, the Patriarch of the Georgian Christian Church. 

The Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary is the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi, Georgia. It belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church and dates from the sixth century.

The beautiful rectangular building of the church was build under the influence of ancient Palestinian architecture. The doors of Anchiskhati church are decorated with traditional Georgian cross similar to the one made by St. Nino.

The church received its present name in the 17 th century when the big icon from Anchi cathedral was moved there. The icon of the Vernicle Image of the Savior is one of the greatest relics of Georgia.It was made by means of encaustic (using hot wax paints) which originated in Byzantium approximately in the 6 th century. The icon of the Savior from Anchi became widely known in the 12 th century when Beka Opizari, the goldsmith of queen Tamar made the silver frame with gold inserts for it. In the 17 th century the private owners passed the icon the St. Mary church in Tbilisi. It was kept there for more than 200 years. In the end of the 19 th century for safety reasons it was moved to the Church museum. Today the Anchi icon (in Georgian “Anchskhati”) is displayed in the Museum of Fine Arts of Georgia.  

 

St. David’s Church is located on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda (meaning the Holy Mountain) in Tbilisi.

The church is named after St. Davit Gareji, a Syrian priest who helped spread Christianity in Georgia in the 6th century and lived in a small cell where the church is now located.

Each week, St. Davit Gareji would come down from Mount Mtatsminda and preach the gospel to the inhabitants of the city.

Mtskheta is a holy and cult place for every Georgian. Such a number of holy and religious places, as in Mtskheta, located 20 km from Tbilisi, are no longer in all of Georgia. For this, the ancient city is called the “Second Jerusalem”. Here is one of the greatest relics of the Christian world is stored - the Chiton of the Lord.

In Mtskheta is located the main Georgian Cathedral Svetitskhoveli and several of the oldest monastery complexes, here each building is a cultural monument  under the protection of UNESCO.

Jvari temple (“Temple of the Holy cross”), built in the 6th century, stands on a high mountain, offering a beautiful view of the confluence of two majestic rivers – Aragva and Kura. According to a legend, the cross of St. Nino was erected on this mountain. Jvari is the first world heritage site in Georgia.

Not far from Jvari there is another cult monument of Christian Georgia – one of the major Orthodox Georgian temples – Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Svetitskhoveli is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This extraordinary building dates from the 11th century, early in the golden age of Georgian church architecture. It has an elongated cross plan and is adorned with beautiful stone carving outside and in. Christ’s robe is believed to lie beneath the central nave, under a square pillar decorated with colourful if faded frescoes of the conversion of Kartli.

The history indicates that Zedazeni temple was built by one of the 13 Assyrian Fathers who arrived from Mesopotamia to Georgia to strengthen Christianity in the country in the 6th century. The exact date of the temple construction is unknown.

The history of the monastery is associated with virgins who ran away from Rome. One of them was Nina Cappadocius, who converted the king and the queen of Iberia to Christianity, after which the king baptized his people.

The Assyrian fathers followed the way of Saint Nina and arrived in Georgia to spread the voice of the Lord to the Georgian people. Fathers founded temples and monasteries in different parts of the country, and Zedazeni was among them.

According to the legend, the founder of the monastery was Father John, the leader of the Assyrian fathers. Father John ordered his disciples to bury him in a cave on a high rock, but the disciples were misheard and buried him under the monastery. The legend says, that the old monastery was destroyed during an earthquake in the VII century, and the earthquake stopped only when John’s body was removed from the tomb.

The monastery suffered during numerous raids. The VIII century basilica, the wall, the tower and the citadel are preserved.

 

Samtavro Convent is located in the spiritual center of Georgia, Mtskheta, and is considered the famous landmark of the town. The monastery was built by King Mirian near the blackberry, after the death of St. Nino.

The Shio-Mgvime Monastery The frescos there are dated the 16 th – the 17 th centuries. In the 17 th century the convent was renovated for the last time.

This place is always full of pilgrims and worshippers of the saint Gabriel.

is located 9 km from the city of Mtskheta, high in the mountains, at an altitude of 750 m above sea level. The monastery was founded by the Monk Shio, who was one of the thirteen holy fathers arrived in Georgia to preach Christianity. Before the construction of the temple, Saint Shio lived in a cave, hence the name of the monastery “Shiomgwime”, translated as “Cave Shio”.

Especially it concerns the monastic church constructed in the 6 th century. Outwardly it is a low structure with allegedly two-level dome topped with a peaked tetrahedral roof. It is a very original monument with no known analogs in entire Georgia. The numerous cells dug by monks in the caves of the nearby mountains are very interesting as well.

We begin the day by visiting Zhinvali water reservoir.

Besides the main purpose of this reservoir which is to supply Tbilisi with water, this place keeps many secrets and legends as well. The construction of the reservoir caused big floodings on this territory and almost destroyed all the historical monuments. They say that the old church that was built from the time of King Tamari in the 12th century has fallen underwater and when the water level decreases the Church is reappearing. This church is considered to be one of the most mystical places in Georgia.

 

Afterwards, we’ll continue to explore the famous 17th century Ananuri Fortress, known for its haunting history. 

Ananuri, a castle complex perched along the turquoise waters of the Aragvi River, is a prime example of Georgia’s unique blended architectural aesthetic.

It is located in 70 kilometres from Tbilisi and this place will make you feel special by its beautiful nature and the taste of an ancient history. This medieval monument, which is very well preserved, was originally used for a military purpose and only later it became the residence of the Dukes of Aragvi. 

 

We will pass Gudauri Ski resort. 

 

Gudauri Friendship monument also known as Gudauri Panorama.

The massive round “friendship” monument still looks out over Devil’s Valley and the Caucasus Mountains. It is situated on the Georgian Military Highway between Gudauri, which is considered the best ski resort in Georgia, and Gergeti, where you can find the Gergeti Trinity Church.

Inside the cylinder monument, a vibrantly colored mural depicts heavily stylized scenes from histories. Stone archways open up to Devil’s Valley, and offer an idyllic view for visitors, even if the name is potentially misleading.

Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia.

The old Georgian Church is located under the Mount Kazbek, 2170m above the town of Stepantsminda and village of Gergeti whose name she had adopted. The church is widely known as Gergeti trinity Church thought Georgians call it Gergeti Tsminda Sameba.

Gergeti Trinity Church is above Stepantsminda and thus it seems an impossible experience to climb up to it, but in fact ascent goes quite easy taking only an hour walk up the serpentine road and a thorny forest. Those who prefer not to walk can rent a car with a driver who will ride you up there in 10 minutes. Very often it happens that alpinists conquering the peak spend the night near the church to become acclimatized to new conditions.

In Georgia, 25 kilometers from the capital, there is the Assyrian village of Kanda, where the Assyrian Father Serafim (Bit-Haribi) serves in the monastery in honor of thirteen holy Assyrian fathers. He is the second clergyman in the world to serve the Divine Liturgy in Aramaic. If Father Seraphim is in the monastery, then we will hear his unique voice, which seems to carry to the distant past.

Father Seraphim is an ethnic Assyrian, confessor of the Georgian community, rector of the Old Kandy Monastery of the Thirteen Holy Assyrian Fathers. He took monastic tonsure in 2006. The village of Old Kanda is the only place in the Orthodox world where services are performed in the New Aramaic language. This is the oldest language, which is more than 2.5 thousand years old, it was spoken by Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Matthew was written.

The Chitakhevi St. George's Monastery is located in a picturesque place in the Borjomi valley. People called it lovingly “The Green Monastery”, because all the trees in the valley are of a special green color. The stones, with which the church is built, are also green, but some are dark and some are light.

Scientists believe that the church was built by Christopher and Theodore, the disciples of the famous Georgian figure, St. Gregory Khandzteli.

In the 16th century, during the invasions of Shah Thamaz, this monastery was raided. During this time dozens of monks were killed or tortured. The blood which remained on the stones thrown into the river Chitakhevi, belong to the monks killed in the 16thcentury. Bloody stones are spread along almost the entire length of the river running through the territory of the monastery.

Later, a few meters away from the church, there was built a bell tower. The bell tower is two-storey. The first floor is a chapel, and the second floor is a richly carved pavilion. On the west surface area, below ​​the arch, there is placed the relief of St. George fighting a whale.

Over the centuries, the divine service was no longer performed at the church. In the early 80s of the past century the church was rehabilitated. In 2002, after many centuries, the monastery was restored.

 

Borjomi is a resort town in south-central Georgia with a population of 10,546. It is one of the districts of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and is situated in the northwestern part of the region in the picturesque Borjomi Gorge on the eastern edge of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.

The town is famous for its mineral water industry (which is the number one export of Georgia), the Romanov summer palace in Likani, and the World Wide Fund for Nature-site Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.

Borjomi mineral water is particularly well known in those countries which were part of the former Soviet Union; the bottling of mineral water is a major source of income for the area. Because of the supposed curative powers of the area’s mineral springs, it is a frequent destination for people with health problems.

Borjomi is also home to the most extensive ecologically-themed amusement park in the Caucasus.

We’ll have a walk in the Borjomi park, where you can taste the healing mineral water directly from the source.

On the cable car you can climb to the forest park, it is located at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. There is an amusement park, a picturesque waterfall, but most importantly – dizzying views of the green Borjomi gorge.

The old stone Rabati fortress, the main sight of the Akhaltsikhe town, is standing on the small hill on the very shores of the Potskhovi river. Its name comes from Arabic meaning “fortified place”. It is located on the western suburbs and can be seen practically from anywhere in the city. This military building erected in the 13th century had witnessed a lot over the centuries. The fortress had been destroyed several times, was often in a siege, as a result of which had absorbed tracks of different cultures and religions. In 2012 there was held a large reconstruction after which Rabati fortress in Akhaltsikhe turned into a town within the town. It has become not only a historical monument, but a real cultural city centre. There is a church, mosque, synagogue, small park, History Museum, various shops, hotels and even civil registry office inside the fortress walls.

Today Rabati fortress is a genuine cultural and historical complex on the square of seven hectares. The territory of the fortress is divided into a lower modern part and upper historical one. The lower part has shops, cafes, restaurant and a hotel. The upper part comprises of Akhmediye mosque (18th century), an Orthodox church (19th century), Djakeli palace, and the History Museum. The museum exposition presents an ancient history of Southern Georgia: stone items of the Neolithic Age, bronze axes found in these lands, items related to the primitive society and other artifacts. It is prohibited to take pictures in the museum.

Apart from this, the Rabati fortress has excellent viewing sites: there are four towers above the walls, where you can go up the winding stairs. Each of them has a wonderful view of Akhaltsikhe and its surroundings, and one can imagine being a guard watching an upcoming enemy. But if this does seem not enough, then you can get to the citadel roof in the western part of the fortress where you get the best ever view.

Vardzia, Georgia’s unique cave city continues to amaze people from all over the world. This time, famous travel blog, Journal of Nomads devoted wonderful and very interesting article to Vardzia – Georgia’s unique ancient cave city.

Vardzia is a rock-carved fortress stretched over 500 meters. It is located in the historic region of Samtskhe-Javakheti and consists of 600 rooms. It can freely be called the Honor of Georgians.

The name of the cave-town is connected with Queen Tamar, the great female monarch (Mepe) of Georgia from 1184 to 1213, presiding over the apex of the Georgian Golden Age.

It should be mentioned that the cave-town is included in the UNESCO world culture heritage list as one of the most unique rock-hewn towns.

The Martqopi monastery of the Deity is a Georgian Orthodox monastery near the village of Martqopi, some 25 km east of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. The history of the monastery dates back to stylite practices in the 6th century and is linked by historical tradition with St. Anton, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers. Most of the monastery's extant structures are from the 17th to the 19th century. The monastery is inscribed on the list of the Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia.

David Gareja is a rock-hewn Georgian Orthodox or Caucasian Albanian monastery complex located in the Kakheti region.

There are hundreds of caves that are part of the David Gareja Monastery, all built into the cliffs found here. There are churches, monastic cells, storage areas, rooms and more in the 14 total monastic ensembles, each of which was built at a different time. David’s Monastery, Mokhatuli, Tsamebuli, Natlismtsemeli, and Dodos Rka are just some of the complexes built into the cliffs, 25 km (15 miles) along the picturesque Gareja Ridge. The history of the complex dates back to the first half of the 6th century, when the 13 Assyrian Fathers arrived in Georgia. These monks came to Georgia to strengthen Christianity in the region, and are credited with founding many monasteries. One of the fathers was David, who founded the first monastery of the ensemble, David’s Monastery, in a natural cave. His students Dodo and Lukian founded an additional two monasteries, Dodos Rka and Natlismtsemeli.

The ancient monastery complex of Davit Gareja is one of the most remarkable of Georgia’s historic sites.

The Georgian town of Sighnaghi is located in the eastern part of Kakheti, and is known as the City of Love. Sighnaghi was also one of Georgia’s many stops along the ancient Silk Road.

The town has recently undergone significant restoration and infrastructural improvement, rendering Sighnaghi a must-see destination in Georgia. Casino gambling, high end hotels and dining, fine wines and a stunning view of the Alazani Valley make Sighnaghi one of Georgia’s most attractive small towns.

The town sits atop a bluff overlooking the Alazani Valley, which is one of Georgia’s most famous wine-producing regions.

As is typical of Georgia, Sighnaghi is endowed with significant historic and cultural heritage sites. Its charming cobblestone streets and alleys, restored original nouveau woodwork, and detailed facades give the town a romantic mystique. Billed the City of Love, Sighnaghi is a popular wedding venue. The wedding chapel here was the first to operate around the clock, and put Sighnaghi on the map as a destination. Its marriage chapel now hosts ceremonies taking place all hours of the day and night. It is also a frequent venue for traditional Georgian dance recitals, music and craft festivals.

The St. George’s Monastery of St. Nino, sometimes also called the Bodbe Monastery, is one of the most important religious sites in Georgia. Today, there is a nunnery where the monastery used to be, and the St. George Cathedral, part of the monastery, holds the remains of St. Nino, Equal to the Apostles, who brought Christianity to Georgia.

According to legends, St. Nino died at the age of 60 in Bodbe in the year 335 CE. During her lifetime, she had crossed the entire country, healing people and preaching Christianity. She asked to be buried in this region, where she had spent her life. Later, King Mirian decided to move her body to Mtskheta, but all efforts were in vain: the coffin couldn’t be moved. 

Gremi is a 16th-century architectural monument – the royal citadel and the Church of the Archangels – in Kakheti, Georgia. 

The main attraction of the complex is the church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The founder of the Gremi, the king Levan of Kakheti is buried on the right side of the main entrance. The temple is built of bricks, the inner walls of the church are decorated with frescoes.

We will visit Alaverdi Monastery, located at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains and founded by the Assyrian monk Joseph Alaverdeli in the VI century. The monastery is well-known for its unique wine cellar and vessels-Qvevris and owes a millennium tradition of winemaking by monks living there.

Near Telavi in the village of Shuamta you will see the fragments of Dzveli-Shuamta and Akhali Shuamta monasteries (old Shuamta and new Shauamta). These two monasteries absolutely different from each other in architecture and were built at different times.

Dzveli Shuamta monastery is more ancient. It is a complex of several ancient churches. The small church standing in the foreground is dated the 5th century, the other two – bigger and smaller domical churches – the 7th century. The bigger church is very similar to Mtskheta Dzhvari temple. The churches have the 12th-century paintings.

Akhali Shuamta Monastery was built later in the 16 th century. This monastery is still active. The big temple, the bell tower, the fencing parts of the monastery complex. According to the legend the monastery was constructed by Tina, the Kakhetin queen. When she was a little girl she had a dream where she was told to build an orthodox temple. In her dream she saw the site of the future monastery. The place appeared unfamiliar, and only when she married Kakhetin prince Levan, Tina recognized the place during her travel across Georgia. That was how the monastery was founded and later Tina took the veil there.