MTSKHETA-MTIANETI

Samtavro Archbishop Church

Samtavro Archbishop Church - currently functioning as Nunnery since 1811. Samtavro field, including the nunnery valley and Baiatkhevi area, has been populated since 4th millennium B.C. Through the centuries, the territory was either inhabited or used as burial grounds. From the dawn of the first century A.D until the Arab invasions, Samtavro field represented the civilian burial ground of Great Mtskheta, the capital city of the kingdom of Kartli while there was a pre-Christian religious center in the southwestern part of the field.

Mtskheta District

The same area was used as a burial ground of the members of the affluent society. It is remarkable that St. Nino selected the very part of the field to settle. As the chronicle says: "მაშინ წმინდამან ნინო ქალაქისა ზღუდის გარეგნით პოვა ქოჩი ერთი ბრწამი მაყულისა, სადა აწ არს საკურთხეველი ზემოსა ეკლესიისა, საეპისკოპოსო, და იგი შეიქმნა საყოფელად თვისად". (ლეონტი მროველი). St. Nino stayed there for three days and preached Christianity. After the royal court officially declared Christianity as

the state religion and Svetitskhoveli construction works were completed, King Mirian ordered the construction of a church near blackberry bushes where St. Nino lived: "იწყეს ხუროთა შენებად ეკლესიისა... მაყუალთა მათ ზედა, საყოფელსა წმინდისა ნინოსსა, სადა აწ არს ეკლესია საეპისკოპოსო.” The present- day complex consists of a small church known as St. Nino’s church, a bigger one built in the first half of 11th century, the bell tower and the wall dating back to the 15th-16th centuries. It is remarkable that the old part of the wall and the gate were built in 11th century. Yellow – brownish well cut stones were used for the construction. Some fragments of the paintings have survived on the altar walls and the dome particularly in the oval circle of its hemisphere where one can see the image of Christ (regrettably, it is significantly damaged) and the episodes from the gospel.

The church dome that collapsed 1283 as a result of powerful earthquakes, was restored in 13th-14th centuries. The paintings date back to 17th century. The architect of the church seems to have fully studied and evaluated the landscape while building the church as the facades blend harmoniously with the environment. It is remarkable that the western and eastern walls look simple while the southern and northern ones are just the opposite; they are decorated with intricately engraved stone ornaments. Samtavro archbishop’s church represented one of the most significant cathedrals of Georgian Autocephalous Church embracing a vast area including the Rekhula Valley. After annexation of the Kingdom of Kartli and Kakheti by the Russian Empire, Russian Holy Synod abolished the Autocephalous of the Georgian Church along with Samtavro Archbishop Cathedral. This was led to the opening of Samtavro Nunnery in 1811 .

Zedazeni Monastery

Zedazeni Monastery represents one of the oldest architectural monuments in Georgia. It is located in the northeastern portion of Mtskheta on the right embankment of the Aragvi river. It was founded by John, one of the Assyrian Fathers in the 540s. From the monastery complex only John the Baptist’s three-nave basilica has survived, built by Catholicos Klimentos on the place of the previous church at the end of 8th century. According to the plan, the central nave of a square basilica is tall and narrow with semicircular apse in the east. The entry way is from the south, (the western entry way was built later). The southern and northern naves are connected to the central one with brick archways. The church located in the eastern part of the northern nave was built in 6th -7th centuries. The altar is elevated on four steps. John Zedazneli’s stone sarcophagus (supposedly altered in 18th century) and “Holy Case” occupy one third of the altar. In the western part of the northern nave there is a water basin. Zedazeni Monastery was renovated several times.

The most recent was in 1970-1971. It is believed that the Zedazeni Monastery was one of the more significant cultural and educational centers of the region although it was only mentioned in the manuscripts of Michael Tsinamzghvari, a famous Georgian scholar of the 11th century. Based on these manuscripts, an unknown writer described the life of John Zedazneli (the founder of the monastery) in his well known hagiographic story named “The life of our Holy Father, John Zedazneli”

Shiomghvime Monastery Complex

Shiomghvime Monastery Complex representing one of the remarkable religious and cultural centers of feudal Georgia, is located on the left embankment of the Aragvi river in Mtskheta District, some 40km away from Tbilisi. Based on historical sources, the monastery was founded in the middle of the 6th century by John Zedazneli’s pupil Shio. Father Shio spent the last years of his life in a dark deep cave where he was buried according to his will after he passed away. His tomb is recognized as the holy place in Shiomghvime Monastery. In the 11th century a church was built that was later combined with John the Baptist’s church. Shiomghvime Monastery Complex consists of John the Baptist’s domed church, the upper church, the dining hall and the chapel near the monastery. John the Baptist’s church with plain and strict features is almost plunged in earth. It represents one of the most remarkable examples of Georgian dome architecture built by St. Shio’s initiative in 550-560s.

Shiomghvime represented a privileged monastery. The desert of the big cave was referred as “Great Laura”. At the same time, the monastery served as an educational and literary center. Shio Mghvimeli was the author of numerous works. ( “ასსამოცი თავის სწავლაი ყოვლად შუენიერი და ტკბილი, რომელთა განისწავებოდეს ყოველნი იგი კრებულნი მარადის"). He created some significant works of Georgian Hymnography . In the 18th century, the following scholars Joseph Samebeli, Gamaliel Gamrekeli, Iona Khelashvili, and Geronti Sologhashvili were involved in educational activities in Shiomghvime. It is remarkable that a rich library was stored in the monastery. According to the information (1804) a big number of manuscripts were kept in Shiomghvime library.

Tsilkani

In the 4th century King Bakar, the son of Mirian III founded Tsilkani Cathedral located in the village of Tsilkani, 15km away from Mtskheta. The complex consists of the Holy Virgin‘s church and the wall dating back to the 8th century. During the reign of Vakhtang Gorgasali (5th century) on the place of the church, another three-nave basilica was built that was converted into a dome church in the 7th century. Later on it was renovated a couple of times. The church consists of three structures: a hall type church (the end of the 4th century) three-nave basilica (5th -8th centuries), and a domed church. At the end of the 19th century, the church was rendered. There are some fragments of paintings and lapidary writings on the inner walls that survived over the centuries. One of the Assyrian Fathers, Ise Tsilkneli lived in Tsilkani in the 6th century. He is said to have initiated the construction of Tsilkani irrigation canal called “Irrigation stream”. Through the centuries the following calligraphists, scholars and poets were engaged in scholarly activities: Eprem Tsilkneli, mentioned in the 11th century manuscript of Jacob’s prayer, the calligraphist Bassil (16th century), Joseph Samebeli working for the Georgian printing house, the bibliophile Christopher Tsilkneli (18th century) as well as Arsen Manglel-Tsilknel-Tbileli. (18th century). It is also important to recognize the activities of Ambrosi Mikadze (known as Tsilkneli), who wrote a book entitled the “Confession Book” (1789 ). Bishop and scholar John Karumidze (18-19 centuries) also was involved in many intellectual and scholarly pursuits here at Tsilkani.

Dzegvi church

In the village of Dzegvi in Mtskheta district, along the river Mtkvari, are a number of architectural monuments dating back to the middle ages. One of them is a single nave church with a hall paved with finely cut stones. In the center of the village there is a round stone tower used in its time for defense and as a residence. In the vicinity of the village a couple of small hall type churches are found. The Bodzi church (10th century) contains some painting fragments of the 11th -12th centuries. In the 12th century Dzegvi represented Catholicos’ village and was required to pay taxes to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Mtskheta