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Jvari Church - The masterpiece of Early Christian Orthodox architecture Jvari Monastery is dated 585-604 cc AD. Located on the hill top near the town Mtskheta, it is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1994. The name is translated as the Monastery of the Cross.
According to traditional accounts, in the early 4th century Saint Nino stayed here to pray and erected a wooden cross on Mtskheta’s highest hill. The church was built on the crest of a cliff at a confluence of the rivers Mtkvari and Aragvi. It is a representative of the tetra conch architectural type that was popular not only in Georgia but also in Byzantine world.
Jvari served as a model for many other churches in the country. Unusual and varied relief sculptures decorate its façades. The importance of Jvari complex increased over time and attracted many pilgrims. According to the legend pilgrims visiting the site shed tears while praying and the nearby natural lake was named the Lake of tears.
The harmonious relationship between the landscape, architectural forms and divisions, the well-thought-out disposition of decorative elements and splendid relieves carved on big slabs of a stone give the south and east walls special expressiveness. Among the reliefs of the east wall are found the portraits of the kings who built the church. Included in UNESCO world heritage sights, the monument is still used for major celebrations.
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- On-board WiFi
- Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off service
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Services From Third Hand
- Lunch
If you’re captivated by heritage sites, passionate about history, or love capturing panoramic pictures, this tour may be perfect for you. We’ve tailored an exciting tour which takes you on a journey through time ‐ from antiquity to the 20th Century. Our trip begins at the UNESCO heritage site, Jvari Monastery, offering a breath-taking view of the city of Mtskheta. We then proceed to the ancient city of Mtskheta itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site revered by Orthodox believers, and home to a fragment of the seamless Robe of Jesus. The tour continues to the city of Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin, leader of the USSR, where we’ll explore the Joseph Stalin Museum and step back into the 20th Century. We conclude our tour with a visit to the ancient rock-hewn town of Uplistsikhe Caves, the true highlight of our tour, which played an important part in Georgian history over a span of around 3,000 years.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
