Excursion to Mtskheta and Tbilisi

If there's not enough time,
Excursion to Mtskheta and Tbilisi

During the tour we will climb the mountain to the Jvari monastery,

This unique monastery was built in the VI century on a mountain on the site of a pagan temple, which at one time by the prayers of St. Nino and was destroyed in a place with other pagan temples.

At this place, King Mirian put up a cross, after which the monastery was built. If you go down the slope, you can see the spring of St. Nina, which has healing properties.

After the monastery of Jvari, we will go up to the monastery of St. John of Zedazen.

Zedazeni.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, monastic life resumed. The monks were surprised to find traces of bears. During this time the monastery was not empty. The monastery offers a beautiful view of the southern Caucasus with snow-capped peaks and the entire district, and is also visible in the palm of Tbilisi and the Jvari monastery. On the other hand, there is a view of the Kazbeg glacier, in good weather of course:

Then we head to Mtskheta.

Arriving in Mtskheta, we first visit the monastery of Samtavro, where the saints are buried equally apostolically by King Mirian and Queen Hana, Queen Hana was healed by Saint Nino and baptized in 314. King Mirian hunted in the vicinity of Mtskheta, pitch darkness fell on the ground, and the king ceased to see anything. In desperation, he asked Nina’s god for help. At the end of the prayer, the light returned and Mirian was able to return to Mtskheta. On his return, he was baptized. King Mirian in 327 proclaimed Christianity the state religion of Iberia (Georgia), and forbade the worship of pagan gods. In addition to the Georgian Orthodox Church, Tsar Mirian is revered as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church.

In Samtavro rest the relics of the great elder and wonderworker of Georgia of the XX century, Saint Gabriel the confessor and fool. By prayer and intercession of St. Even after his death, miracles are performed and many seriously ill people are healed from various diseases.

In the courtyard of the monastery already the 17th century the Blackberry Bush blooms, near which Saint Nina prayed. This place used to belong to Queen Nana, in whose garden Saint Nino lived.
After inspecting the monastery of Samtavro, we go to Svetitskhoveli (Temple of the Life-Giving Pillar). Svetitskhoveli is the greatest shrine of Georgia, which is why the city of Mtskheta is called the second Jerusalem, because the temple houses one of the greatest shrines of the Christian world - Chiton Christ. And also the cloak of the prophet Elijah, who was brought with him by the Jews persecuted by Nebuchadnezzar 26 centuries ago. The temple also has a life-giving pillar, which is why the temple is called Svetitskhoveli. Svetitskhoveli is the main cathedral of the country, where the kings of Georgia are buried. The temple of Svetitskhoveli is also amazing for its architectural style. No solution was used when laying stones. On the northern wall is carved the hand of the master Arsukidze (the legend says that the hand was cut off by order of the king, so that he could no longer build another similar temple).

Excursion to Tbilisi

During the tour we will climb Mount Elia, where the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is built. On the way back we will show a sculpture of Mimino, and also look at the old town. You can look at the history of the city from the first centuries to the present day, walking through the narrow streets of the city. Here you will find various religious buildings – churches, synagogues, mosques, as well as famous 18th-19th century houses with wooden multi-colored balconies. You will visit the sulfur baths that left an unforgettable impression on Pushkin, Lermontov, Dumas.

During the tour you will enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Old Town. You will also see a 30-meter natural waterfall hidden in old Tbilisi, which would be envied by many cities. We will also visit the unique treasury of the National Museum of Georgia (state gold fund), climb the Mtatsminda pantheon (Holy Mountain), where outstanding figures of Georgia are buried.