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Car rental in Tbilisi

 

 
 
 

Path of 13 Assyrian Holy Fathers

 

   

David Gareja Complex

 

was founded in the 6th century by David (St. David Garejeli) one of the thirteen Assyrian monks, who arrived in the country at the same time. His disciples, Dodo and Luciane expanded the original lavra and founded two other monasteries known as Dodo's Rka (literally, "the horn of Dodo") and Natlismtsemeli ("the Baptist"). The monastery saw further development under the guidance of the 9th-century Georgian saint Ilarion. The convent was particularly patronized by the Georgian royal and noble families. The 12th-century Georgian king Demetre I, the author of the famous Georgian religious hymn Thou Art a Vineyard, even chose David Gareja as a place of his confinement after he abdicated the throne. 


 
    Alaverdi Monastery
 

Earliest structures of Alaverdi Monastery date back to 6th century. The present day surviving cathedral is part of an 11th century Georgian Orthodox monastery. Located in 20 km from Telavi, in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. The Monastery was founded by the Assyrian monk Yoseb Alaverdeli, who came from Antioch and settled in Alaverdi, then a small village and the former pagan religious center dedicated to moon. At the beginning of XI century Kakhetian King Kvirike the Great built a cathedral in the place of a small church of St. George, which today is know as Alaverdi Cathedral. Alaverdi is the second tallest, after the recently consecrated Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral, religious building in the country and its height is more than 55 meters. 


 
    Ikalto Monastery
 

Ikalto is a monastery complex near Telavi, in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. Founded in the 5th century it was the region's largest centre of culture and education at that time. In the 11th-12th centuries a famous Georgian ecclesiastical figure Arsen Ikaltoeli ("Ikaltoeli" meaning "from Ikalto") founded the Academy here. Near the complex there are three churches and the ruins of this Academy. The principal of the three churches is the 8th-9th century one, named Khvtaeba. 


 
    Nekresi
 

Nekresi in Kakheti, in Eastern Georgia, situated in Kvareli region not far from Shilda village, represents complex of ecclesiastical buildings and is one of the most important cultural centres of Georgia. The nekresi monastery ensemble includes several structures built in different times. The oldest is a chapel of the small basilica type built in IV century, when King Trdat, the the grandson of King Mirian was on the throne; In VI-VII centuries here was erected the main tample - st.Virgin's church of the triple-church basilica type, which has several important inscriptions and wall-painting of XVI century; In IX century was built the domed church; There are also other buildings for different purposes - bishop's palace, etc. In second half of VI century Abibos (one of the famouse 12 Great Siriac Fathers) became the head of Nekresi eparchy. He was fighting against persians' attempts to implant the fire - worshiping into Georgia and finally was executed for insulting of persian God.


 
    Zedazeni Monastery
 

It is a Georgian Orthodox monastery , located on the Zedazeni mountain the hills of Saguramo, northeast to Mtskheta and to the east side of the Aragvi River. The monastery was founded by Saint John, one of the Holy Assyrian Fathers of Georgia whose mission was to strengthen Christianity in the region. Saint John founded the monastery in the 40s of the 6th century on Zedazeni mountain, where prior to Christianity used to be a cult of Zaden, the idol of war.


 
    Tsilkani
 

Tsilkani is a forgotten farming village northwest of Mtskheta.
Its church, one of the oldest in Georgia, was founded in the 4th century by an early Bagrationi of Mukharani (Oak-Woods) the name of this valley and another now unimportant village nearby. The area has been occupied since prehistoric times. At nearby Dzalisi remnants and mosaic floors of a Roman town of the 2nd century AD
The present church at Tsilkani, to judge from its architectural style, must date from the 12th century. Its interesting murals appear to have been painted in the middle of the 13th - as the image of Christ in the apse conch indicates. 


 
    Samtavisi
 

Samtavisi is an eleventh-century Georgian Orthodox cathedral in eastern Georgia, in the region of Shida Kartli, some 45km from the nation’s capital Tbilisi. The cathedral is now one of the centers of the Eparchy of Samtavisi and Gori of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The cathedral is located on the left bank of the Lekhura River, some 11km of the town of Kaspi. According to a Georgian tradition, the first monastery on this place was founded by the Assyrian missionary Isidore in 572 and later rebuilt in the 10th century. Neither of these buildings has survived however. The earliest extant structures date to the eleventh century, the main edifice being built in 1030 as revealed by a now lost stone inscription. The cathedral was built by a local bishop and a skilful architect Hilarion who also authored the nearby church of Ashuriani. Heavily damaged by a series of earthquakes, the Cathedral was partially reconstructed in the 15th and 19th centuries. The masterly decorated eastern façade is the only survived original structure.


 
    Martkopi Monastery
 

 In a several dozen kilometers from Tbilisi, a monastery founded by father Anton of Martkopi in the 6th century is to be found. He spent the last 15 years of his life there. He lived as a hermit, what is implied by the "of Martkopi” designation in Georgian. From this designation came the name of the Georgian village Akriani, which initially was called Martodmkopeli and later Martkopi. The monastery itself is situated on the most beautiful slope of Mount Ialno. The main building is the church of the Divine-Made Icon. The remains of an ancient foundation indicate that on the place of the contemporary cathedral there was an ancient cathedral of greater size, but for some reason in was destroyed. On the threshold of the XVII-XVIII centuries it was reconstructed and the belfry, which was constructed in 1629 by master Akhverd, belongs to this period. In the XVII century the ancient frescos were destroyed and in 1848-1855 under the leadership of Ivane Arjevanidze, the monastery was restored. For a long time, a Divine-Made image brought by St Anton of Martkopi from Edessa was stored at the monastery. But in 1395 it was lost during the Tamerlane invasion. The most sacred place of the monastery is the tomb of St Anton of Martkopi, which has been preserved to this day and is considered miraculous. East of the monastery there is a tower where evidently resided the saint.  


 
    Shio-Mghvime
 

The Shio-Mghvime Monastery, literally meaning "the cave of Shio" is a medieval monastic complex in Georgia, near the town of Mtskheta. It is located in a narrow limestone canyon on the northern bank of the river Mtkvari. According to a historic tradition, the first monastic community at this place was founded by the 6th-century monk Shio, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers who came to Georgia as Christian missionaries. St. Shio is said to have spent his last years as a hermit in a deep cave near Mtskheta subsequently named Shiomghvime after him.

 


 
    Stepantsminda
   

According to the scriptures, the buildig works of Urbnisi church were launched after the Assirian fathers had arrived in Georgia in the 4th century and the name has been related to St Thadeos Stepantsminda. At first the temple had a name of Sioni, related to St virgin. However, it was given the name of Stephen the First Martyr in the 4th century. The Monastery of women is also related to the name of St Thadeos.


 
    Khirsa
Khirsa Monastery   Our new stop was Khirsa Monastery, or the Church of St. Stephen. The church was established in the 6th-century by Stephen, one of the Syrian Fathers. These were 13 monks who came from Syria to Georgia in the 6th century. Each one established at least one monastery throughout the country. They left an indelible and continuing influence on Georgian culture. St. Stephen's tomb is to the left of the altar. During the 19th-century, the Russians white-washed over the frescoes. And of course, the church was closed throughout the Communist era. Monks returned to Khirsa only 3 years ago. Repairs and improvements are being made and some frescoes have been salvaged, though the work is just beginning. But Georgians are a patient people.

 
    Breta

 
    Ulumbo