Find a list of names of saints of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Georgia. Restoration of autocephaly. Recent period

In addition to the fact that Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina is the patroness of all who are baptized with the same name, she helps everyone who asks her for intercession.
Nina is considered the patroness of those people who are associated with education (teachers), because in essence she was an educator, teaching people the faith of Christ.
In front of the icon of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, you can pray for the cure of various diseases and mental ailments - her most important weapon was a cross made of grapevine, which she received from the Mother of God Herself.
In Georgia, a lot of girls are named Nina - after all, the saint is considered the patroness of this country and its inhabitants.
It must be remembered that icons or saints do not “specialize” in any specific areas. It will be right when a person turns with faith in the power of God, and not in the power of this icon, this saint or prayer.
And .

THE LIFE OF SAINT NINA, ENLIGHTENER OF GEORGIA

Saint Nina was born around the year 280 in Cappadocia (the center of modern Turkey) into a noble family. Her father Zabulon was a noble nobleman, he was favored by the ruling emperor Maximian himself. There were several famous saints in this family, Zebulun had a relative - saint, and Saint Nina herself was his cousin.
At the age of twelve, Saint Nina found herself in Jerusalem with her parents. Her father Zebulon became God's servant in the Jordanian deserts, and her mother, Susanna, had the great honor of serving at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Saint Nina was raised by the pious Elder Nianfora, who taught her to follow numerous rules of faith and instilled in her a love of reading the Holy Scriptures.

One day she was reading the Gospel and thinking about the Robe of the Lord (John 19:23-24). Nianfora told her the legend that the Mtskheta rabbi Eleazar took the sacred Robe of the Lord to Iveria (Georgia), which became one of the Destinations of the Mother of God.
The enlightenment of Iberia fell to Saint Mary by lot with the apostles, but the Angel of the Lord who appeared to her said that Georgia would be Her destiny after the end of her earthly life, and during her life, She was supposed to place Her holy labors on Athos.
Having learned this story from Elder Nianfora, Saint Nina began to fervently pray to the Most Holy Theotokos to help her enlighten Georgia and suggest the location of the Robe of the Lord, which had been lost to people. And then one day, in a dream, the Mother of God appeared to the righteous woman and said to her:

“Take this cross, it will be your shield and fence against all visible and invisible enemies. Go to the country of Iveron, preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there and you will find grace from Him: I will be your Patroness.”

With these words, the Blessed Virgin presented Nina with a cross made of grapevine, which the girl, upon waking up, saw in her hands.

Currently, this grape cross is in a special ark in the Tbilisi Zion Cathedral.

When Saint Nina told her uncle, who was the Patriarch in Jerusalem, about this, he without hesitation blessed her for apostolic service, after which she went to Iberia, where she arrived in 319.
She fell in love with the local people, studied their customs, language and preached Orthodoxy, while her sermons were accompanied by many signs.

Once upon a time in the city of Mtskheta (the capital of ancient Georgia) there were pagan celebrations and at the same time a Christian one began. On this day, during the prayer of St. Nina, a very strong wind arose, blowing away the idols to which people made sacrifices and prayed to them.
In Mtskheti, Saint Nina found shelter in the family of the royal gardener. For many years there were no children in this family, and now, through the prayers of Saint Ninoy, this man’s wife, Anastasia, was finally able to give birth to a child and immediately believed in Christ.

A little later, Saint Nina helped the Georgian Queen Nana overcome a serious illness, after which she turned from an idolater into a zealous Christian and accepted Baptism. Nana's husband, King Miriam (265-342) saw, of course, the miraculous healing of the queen, but, despite this, he believed the evil slander against Nina. He ordered her to be seized and executed, but during the execution of the holy righteous woman, the sun suddenly darkened and darkness fell. The ruler was struck by blindness, and his courtiers began to pray to their pagan gods for day to return to them. But their, as they thought, “holy” idols remained and did not help and the darkness intensified. Then the frightened people cried out to the Lord God, whom Nina preached, and immediately the darkness dissipated and the sun came out. This happened in 319 on May 6th.
Tsar Mirian was healed from blindness by Saint Nina, immediately believed in Christ and, together with his court, received holy Baptism.
To help Saint Nina, at the request of King Miriam, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine sent Bishop Eustathius and five other clergy, who by 324 finally established Christianity in Georgia.

But Jesus Christ was still unknown to the mountainous regions of Georgia. In order to enlighten the people living near the Aragvi and Iori rivers, Saint Nina and two assistants went to them and began to preach the Gospel. After her labors, many highlanders accepted Holy Baptism.
Then Nina went to Kakheti (East Georgia), where she led an ascetic life, lived in a tent and explained to people the essence of a new faith for them. Through her works, a large number of people turned to the faith of Christ, together with their queen of Kakheti Soja (Sophia) and her courtiers.
All this time Saint Nina dreamed of finding the Robe of the Lord. Finally, through her prayers, the Lord revealed the location of the shrine - the Chiton was found. And on this site the first Christian temple in Iveria was built. At first it was a wooden structure, later a stone temple was erected. Now this is a cathedral in honor of the 12 holy Apostles in Svetitskhoveli.

Completing her apostolic ministry in Georgia, Saint Nina was notified from above about the end of her earthly life. She asked King Miriam to send Bishop John to her so that he could prepare her for her final journey. The king, having received such news, himself, together with many priests, went to the saint, where all the clergy witnessed the healings of people who came to visit the dying Saint Nina from serious illnesses.
Saint Nina's disciples asked her to tell about her life; one of the students, Solomiya Udzhamarskaya, wrote down this story, which became the basis of the life of Saint Nina.

After 35 years of apostolic labors, Saint Nina, having received the Holy Mysteries, in 335 (from other sources - in 347) peacefully departed to the Lord. At this moment, Nina was 67 years old. According to her will, the body was buried where she had recently lived - in Bodbe.
Mirian, the clergy and the people greatly mourned the death of the bright righteous woman. The king even wanted to move her remains closer to himself, to the Mtskheta cathedral church. But the saint did not want this - they simply could not move her coffin from its resting place.

The convent of St. Nino was founded on this site; there is also a temple founded in 342 in the name of Nina’s cousin, the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious.
The relics of the holy enlightener became famous for countless miracles and healings.
The Georgian Orthodox Church, with the consent of the Antiochian Patriarchate, named the enlightener of Georgia equal to the apostles and, canonizing her as a saint, established her memory on January 27 (January 14, old style), the day of her blessed death.

GREATNESS

We magnify you, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino, who enlightened the entire country of Iveron with the light of the Gospel and led us to Christ.

VIDEO

Georgia(cargo. საქართველო , Sakartvelo) is a state located in Western Asia and the Middle East, in the western part of Transcaucasia on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Georgia borders Armenia and Turkey in the south, Azerbaijan in the southeast, and Russia in the east and north. The capital is Tbilisi. The official language is Georgian.

Largest cities

• Batumi
• Kutaisi

Georgian Orthodox Church

Georgian Orthodox Church(official name: Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church, cargo საქართველოს სამოციქულო ავტოკეფალური მართლმადიდებელი ეკლესია ) is an autocephalous local Orthodox Church, having sixth place in the diptychs of Slavic local Churches and ninth place in the diptychs of ancient Eastern patriarchates. One of the oldest Christian churches in the world. Jurisdiction extends to the territory of Georgia and to all Georgians, wherever they live, as well as to the territory of partially recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia and northern Turkey. According to legend, based on an ancient Georgian manuscript, Georgia is the apostolic lot of the Mother of God. In 337, through the works of Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Christianity became the state religion of Georgia. The church organization was within the Antiochian Church. The issue of the Georgian Church receiving autocephaly is a difficult one. According to the historian of the Georgian church, priest Kirill Tsintsadze, the Georgian Church enjoyed actual independence since the time of King Mirian, but received full autocephaly only in the 5th century from the Council convened by the Antioch Patriarch Peter III.

Article 9 of the Constitution of Georgia states: “The state recognizes the exclusive role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the history of Georgia and at the same time proclaims complete freedom of religious beliefs and religion, the independence of the church from the state.”

Story

Early period

According to Georgian legendary history, Georgia is the apostolic lot of the Mother of God.

Soon after this event, Apostle Andrew went to preach Christianity. First he went north from Palestine, then turned east, reached the city of Trebizond, which at that time was located within Egrisi (modern Mingrelia), after preaching the Gospel there, he moved to the borders of Iberia, to the land of Did-Adchara.

There, the apostle, by preaching and performing miracles, converted many people to Christianity and baptized them. According to the story of Tsarevich Vakhushti, the son of Tsar Vakhtang V, a healing spring opened in the place where Apostle Andrew placed the icon of the Mother of God. Having appointed priests and deacons to the newly converted Christians, built a temple in honor of the Mother of God and established church order, the apostle left them.

Before Saint Andrew left that land, the converts asked him to leave the icon of the Mother of God, but the apostle did not agree to such a request, but ordered to make a board as large as this icon and bring it to him. When the board was ready, he placed it on the icon of the Mother of God, and the icon was completely depicted on the board. The Apostle gave the Christians a new image, which they placed in their new church. Then Saint Andrew went to other lands.

Having crossed the mountain called the Mountain of the Iron Cross and the Dzarkhi gorge, he entered the borders of Samtskhe and stopped in the village of Zaden-gora. From here he went to the city of Atskuri, called Sosangeti in ancient times. Having reached Atskuri, the apostle chose one house near the main temple of the city and settled in it. At that time, there reigned a widow who had an only son, whom she loved more than anything in the world, who was the only heir to her kingdom. Unfortunately, the widow's son died shortly before the apostle arrived in Atskuri.

According to legend, during the stay of the Apostle Andrew in Atskuri, several miracles occurred - the main one of which was the resurrection of the widow’s son and the destruction of the statues of pagan gods. Then, having appointed a bishop, priests and deacons for the converts, Saint Andrew wanted to go to other countries, but the queen and her subjects asked Andrew not to leave them, or to leave them the miraculous icon of the Mother of God. The icon left by Saint Andrew was placed in a new church erected in honor of the Mother of God.

Soon after the events described, Andrei went to Nigli, Klarjeti and Artan-Pankola, where, after a long sermon, he converted the inhabitants of those places to Christianity and baptized them. He then returned to Jerusalem for the Passover holiday.

After Pentecost, Saint Andrew took with him the Apostle Simon the Canaanite, Matthew, Thaddeus and others. With them he initially went to King Abgar, where, having preached the word of God and baptized the inhabitants, he left the Apostle Thaddeus to establish the new Church. The others, going around preaching the cities and villages of Cappadocia and Pontus, finally reached Kartli (Kartala country) (Iveria). Further, they walked part of the Mtiuleti land to the Chorokhi River.

Then the apostles visited Svaneti, during the reign of the dowager queen, wife of the murdered Pontic king Polamon Pythodora, who, along with many of her subjects, accepted Christianity and was baptized by Andrew himself. In Svaneti, the Apostle Matthew and other disciples remained with the queen to establish the newly enlightened in Christianity, as Blessed Jerome testifies to this. From Svaneti, Andrei, together with Simon Kananit, went to Ossetia, where he reached the city of Fostafora. Here the apostles converted many to Christianity. Leaving Ossetia, they went to Abkhazia and reached the city of Sevasti (now Sukhumi), where they also converted many. Here Andrei left the Apostle Simon the Canaanite with others to confirm the converts, while he himself went to the land of the Jiketes. The Djikets did not accept Christianity, and, moreover, the apostle himself was almost killed. Leaving them, Andrei went to Upper Suadag.

The inhabitants of Upper Suadag accepted religion from the apostle. From here he went to the upper shores of the Black Sea, visiting cities and villages, and finally reached the city of Patras in Achaia, where he died on the cross from the Anthipat Aegeates in 55.

The faith preached by St. Andrew and the apostles who remained after his departure, began to take root among the people. Aderki, or Farsman I, who reigned in Kartli (Iberia) three years BC and ruled the country for sixty-three years, heard that his subjects had turned from paganism to Christianity, and began persecuting Christians. Many of them suffered martyrdom during this persecution along with the Apostle Simon the Zealot. Christianity, apparently suppressed by the fury of the king, was not actually defeated: Christians remained, hiding in the mountains and forests, having places of general meetings and prayers. Soon, the grave of Simon the Canaanite, located in the mountains of Abkhazia near Sukhumi, became an object of deep veneration.

Since the time of this persecution, for almost half a century, Iberia no longer received preachers of Christianity from anywhere and did not have leaders who would confirm the converts in their confession.

Already in the hundredth year, the holy martyr Clement, Bishop of Rome, exiled by Emperor Trajan to the deserted places of Tauris, by working miracles and teachings helped many Colchians to remain faithful to Christianity. According to Mikhail Sabinin, among the seventy churches built by the saint during his lifetime on the shores of the Black Sea, there was Colchis.

Meanwhile, the final establishment of Christianity and the fact that it became the dominant religion was the fruit of the long-term and diligent preaching of the Apostle of All, the holy enlightener, Blessed Mother Nina.

Christianity as a state religion

In the period between 318 and 337, most likely in 324-326. Through the works of Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Christianity became the state religion of Georgia. The church organization was within the Antiochian Church.

In 451, together with the Armenian Church, it did not accept the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon and in 467, under King Vakhtang I, it became independent from Antioch, acquiring the status of an autocephalous Church with its center in Mtskheta (the residence of the Supreme Catholicos). In 607, the Church accepted the decisions of Chalcedon, violating canonical unity with the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Under the Sassanids (VI-VII centuries) it withstood the fight against Persian fire worshipers, and during the period of the Turkish conquests (XVI-XVIII centuries) - against Islam. This exhausting struggle led to the decline of Georgian Orthodoxy and the loss of churches and monasteries in the Holy Land.

In 1744, reforms similar to those of Patriarch Nikon in Rus' took place in the Georgian Church.

Georgian Exarchate of the Russian Church

In 1801, Georgia became part of the Russian Empire. According to the project developed by the chief administrator, General A.P. Tormasov and presented to Alexander I in 1811, instead of 13 dioceses, 2 were established in Eastern Georgia: Mtskheta-Kartali and Alaverdi-Kakheti. On June 21, 1811, the Holy Synod removed Catholicos-Patriarch Anthony II from office.

From June 30, 1811 until March 1917 (de facto) the Church in Georgia had the status of the Georgian Exarchate of the Russian Church; the title of Catholicos was abolished. Varlaam (Eristavi) became the first exarch on July 8, 1811 (August 30, 1814 - May 14, 1817;

By the end of the 1810s, the Abkhaz Catholicosate, which was included in the Georgian Exarch, was also abolished.

After Varlaam (Eristavi), non-Georgian bishops were appointed as exarchs, which often led to friction with the local clergy and excesses, such as the murder of Exarch Nikon (Sofia) on May 28, 1908 in the building of the Georgian-Imereti Synodal Office.

Restoration of autocephaly. Recent period

On March 12 (March 25), 1917, at the Mtskheta Council, the autocephaly of the Georgian Church was proclaimed; Bishop Leonid (Okropidze) of Guria-Mingrelia was elected guardian of the throne of the Catholicos. On March 13, the latter notified the Exarch of Georgia, Archbishop of Kartalin-Kakheti Platon (Rozhdestvensky), of his removal from the see, which was not recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church.

On March 27, 1917, the Provisional Government recognized the autocephaly of the Georgian Church in principle. On July 10, 1917, a joint meeting of the Provisional Government and the Synod decided to establish the Caucasian Exarchate for the voluntary entry into it of Russian parishes of Tiflis, Elizavetpol, Baku, Erivan, Kutais, Black Sea provinces and Kars, Batumi regions, Artvinsky, Zagatala and Sukhumi districts. Theophylact (Klementyev), who was soon removed from Georgia by the Georgian bishops, was appointed bishop in Tiflis.

Moscow Patriarch Tikhon, in his message of December 29, 1917 to Catholicos Kirion II (Sadzaglishvili), elected at the Council in September 1917, condemned the arbitrary nature of the restoration of autocephaly of the more ancient Georgian Church. Communication between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Georgian Church was interrupted.

In 1927, the Georgian Church switched to the New Julian calendar, but under pressure from believers it had to “postpone” its decision.

Officially, communication was restored by the Decree of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on November 19, 1943.

In 1997, the Georgian Orthodox Church left the World Council of Churches.

Primate since December 23, 1977 - His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Pitsunda and Tskhum-Abkhazeti Ilia II.

The Church consists of 35 dioceses, uniting about 300 communities; After 1992, the Abkhaz diocese is de facto not part of the Georgian Church. There is also canonical unsettlement in South Ossetia, where, according to Catholicos Ilia II, “representatives of the Russian Church Abroad are present.”

Relations with the Moscow Patriarchate

The official representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, said in August 2008 in connection with the military conflict in Georgia: "Political the decisions do not determine questions of ecclesiastical jurisdictions and areas of pastoral responsibility. These issues must be resolved on the canonical field in the course of dialogue between the two Churches.”

On November 9, 2008, Metropolitan Kirill, Chairman of the DECR MP (now Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'), in an interview with the Vesti channel, said, in particular, about the “Alan Diocese”: "Need to to say that this is not just a schismatic diocese, but the fact is that the head of this diocese received his episcopal ordination from the Greek Old Calendarists. [- This is also an unrecognized hierarchy] Absolutely right, from the so-called Synod of Cyprian. All the activities of this synod in relation to Russia are aimed at weakening the Russian Orthodox Church. And what happens: on the one hand, Russian soldiers shed blood for the Ossetian people, in order to protect South Ossetia, and on the other hand, the spiritual leaders of this country are under the jurisdiction of a schismatic church, which sets its main goal to destroy the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church. But that doesn't happen. Therefore, the first thing that needs to be done is, of course, to resolve the issue with this schismatic jurisdiction.”

On September 12, 2009, during a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, the position of the Moscow Patriarchate on the issue of the territory of the Georgian Church was confirmed by the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the MP, Archbishop Hilarion (Alfeev) of Volokolamsk.

The Saints

Shrines

Temples

Trinity Church (Gergeti)

Trinity Church in Gergeti (Georgian: გერგეტის წმინდა სამება, Gergetis Tsminda Sameba) is located at an altitude of 2,170 m at the foot of Kazbek along the Georgian Military Road in the Georgian village of Gergeti on the right bank of the Chkheri (tributary of the Terek), directly above the village of Stepantsminda.

Built in the 14th century, the shrine is the only cross-domed church in the Khevi region. A medieval bell tower has been preserved near the temple.

During Soviet times, the church was closed, but has now been returned to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Popular among tourists.

Directions: If you decide to climb Kazbek, then the route runs right past the temple. So it's kind of a free cultural app. Climbers have a custom of spending their first night here in order to adapt to the altitude.

You can walk to the Church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti on foot. Don’t let its height scare you, if you’re willing to spend an hour or two climbing and your physical fitness allows you to do it, then why not? The hike to the top takes about three hours. You will need to go through the village of Gergeti, wind along a small, harmless forest serpentine, sometimes taking shortcuts along well-trodden paths, and climb to the top along a path that goes up at a large angle.

Svetitskhoveli (Mtskheta)

Among the surviving historical buildings, Svetitskhoveli (Georgian: სვეტიცხოველი - life-giving pillar) is the largest in Georgia. For centuries it has been the center of Christian Georgia. Back in the 4th century, King Mirian III, who converted to Christianity, on the advice of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, built the first wooden church in Georgia, which has not survived to this day.

One of the foundations of the temple was cedar, which marked the burial place of Christ's robe. In the second half of the 5th century, the pious king Vakhtang I Gorgasal built a basilica on the site of this church, the upper foundations of which were uncovered by Soviet researchers (led by V. Tsintsadze) in the 1970s. and left for public viewing.

In the 11th century, on the site of the damaged basilica, Catholicos of Georgia Melkizedek I (1012-1030, 1039-1045) erected a temple. The current cross-domed, four-pillar, three-nave church in the name of the Twelve Apostles was built from 1010 to 1029 under the supervision of the architect Arsakidze (mentioned in the inscription on the facade).

Address: Located in the south-eastern part of Mtskheta, in the ancient city center

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Batumi)

The temple was erected in 1898-1903 by Stepan Zubalashvili in memory of his deceased mother Elizabeth, who asked to build a Catholic church in Batumi. Stepan invited artists and architects from Italy for construction. In total, construction cost 250 thousand rubles.

During the years of Soviet power, the temple was under threat of destruction. Among those speaking in his defense was the writer Konstantin Gamsakhurdia. Director Tengiz Abuladze made the film “Repentance” based on this story. As a result, the building was preserved and was used for different purposes over the years: there was a high voltage laboratory, an archive and other institutions.

In the 1970s, the temple was restored, and in the 1980s it was transferred to the Georgian Orthodox Church. On May 16, 1989, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II consecrated the temple, after which about 5 thousand people were baptized.

By order of the Minister of Culture and Monument Protection No. 3/31 dated February 21, 2011, the cathedral was included in the list of cultural heritage sites, historical and cultural monuments of Batumi.

Currently, the temple is the current cathedral of the Batumi and Laz diocese of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Address: Georgia, Batumi, st. Chavchavadze, 25

Monasteries

Gelati Monastery of the Virgin Mary (Kutaisi)

The monastery was founded by King David IV the Builder in 1106 and became his tomb. The cathedral church was built before 1125 and for another five years it was decorated with mosaics, which are considered the best in all of Transcaucasia. At that time, the monastery was the seat of the Gelati Academy, whose members were keenly interested in ancient Greek philosophy.

In the 13th century, the churches of St. Nicholas and St. George, as well as a three-tier belfry. The murals date back to different periods of Georgian history, from the 12th to the 18th centuries; The portrait images of crowned persons are especially noteworthy. Previously, the monastery preserved many valuable icons and objects of applied art; during Soviet times they were confiscated and distributed to museums.

Address: Georgia, Gelati (11 km from Kutaisi).

Directions: The monastery is located a little away from the Kutaisi-Tkibuli highway. The turn has a pointer. From the highway you need to walk along a winding road for about three kilometers. There is parking in front of the entrance and several stalls with souvenirs.

David-Gareji Monastery

The huge temple, which can be seen from everywhere in the city (powerful lighting also plays an important role, so that in the evening it seems that Sameba is hovering over Tbilisi) was opened relatively recently, in 2002, and in its architecture one can, of course, feel new trends, but rather delicate ones . The territory of the temple is huge, and it’s pleasant to walk around the church garden - especially since the paths and alleys offer an excellent panorama: of the city and the pond with swans. The main symbol of the revival of post-communist Georgia.

There are several other smaller churches inside. Official residence of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia. Sameba (Holy Trinity Cathedral)
The height of the temple is 105.5 meters.
In 3rd place in the list of the highest Orthodox churches.
Nearby is Anchiskhati (VIc) Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Anchiskhati was kept(now in the museum).

Sioni Cathedral, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, 5th century.It stands on the banks of the Kura River in the historical center of the city. Before the construction of the Tsminda Sameba Cathedral (2004), the chair of the Georgian Catholicos was located here. Several Georgian Patriarchs are buried in the temple, including Saint David canonized already in the 21st century.
In this cathedralone of the main shrines of Georgia is kept - cross of St. Nino from the vine, intertwined with her hair, and honest head of the apostle Thomas .

Matekha Temple. The main secret of this temple is a dizzying view of the city from the cliff (as well as from the city to the rock on which the temple stands, as it seems, only by miracle) and a charming garden carefully laid out by the priests (to get to it, you need to go around the temple from the side of the monument and climb up the narrow stairs). In the 19th century, this temple was turned into barracks, and only in 1988, President Gamsakhurdia, after going on a hunger strike, returned the shrine to the Georgian Church. Here The first martyr of Georgia, Queen Shushanika, was buried

Mtatsminda. The Georgian pantheon with the burial places of the most famous people of Georgia, including Griboedov, Gamsakhurdia, and Stalin’s mother...

Church of the Great Martyr George on Rustaveli Avenue, opposite the Parliament of Georgia.

15 km. from Tbilisi is the ancient capital of Georgia, Mtskheta city.

This is considered the holiest place in Georgia, it is Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. It is believed that the Robe of Christ was buried in the place where the temple now stands; it was brought from Jerusalem by women who went to see Jesus and listen to his sermons. It was erected in the 4th century, but since then it has been rebuilt several times, and its appearance today is considered so beautiful that Architect Arsakidze's hand was cut off, so that he does not repeat his success (a hand with drawing tools can be seen on the left wall).
Inside, among the crowd of tourists and newlyweds who came for a blessing, it is worth seeing an amazing icon of Christ - if you look at it for a long time, it seems that Christ either closes his eyes or opens them. The robe of Jesus Christ is kept hidden in this temple. . In the courtyard of the temple live fawns donated to the Patriarch of Georgia. And on the frescoes of the temple on the column at the right side entrance you can see mysterious flying saucers with rays.

Another very holy place, a monastery Jvari(Cross).The small fifth-century monastery of Jvari is the country's first World Heritage Site and a favorite place for weddings: from the top of the mountain on which it stands there is an incredible view of the confluence of the Aragva and the Kura. Romantics adds the opinion that it was from Jvari that Lermontov’s Mtsyri escaped. This is the place of prayer of St. Nina .

Monastery of Samtauro. The small monastery is always lively: firstly, restoration is going on here, secondly, nuns are scurrying around tending the garden, thirdly, someone is being buried in the small cemetery, and fourthly (and most importantly), Pilgrims crowd at the tomb of Archimandrite Gabriel. It is believed that by placing your hands and lowering crosses into the ground of the grave, you can recharge your batteries with energy.. The monument to the archimandrite, by the way, is myrrh-streaming. Also in the monastery are relics of St. Aviv, the Iveron miraculous icon and the miraculous icon of St. Nina .

Medieval Shio-Mgvim monastery. Here rest the relics of the holy Orthodox Shio . Many pilgrims and tourists come here. There are a total of 5 ancient monasteries in Mtskheti, but these three are the most visited and accessible.

Beyond Mtskheta 63 km. from Tbilisi there is the city of Gori, known to everyone as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. The house has been preserved and today it is a museum, but there is another attraction there.

The ancient cave city appeared here in the 2nd-1st millennium BC, but since then it has been completely preserved (if we can consider the preservation of only 1/7 of all the caves that were ever here to be successful): 150 caves for various purposes, streets fortifications, protective walls, secret tunnels, temples, dining halls with graceful arches and columns, maranis, sacrificial platforms, grape presses. Moreover, the city was improved and settled until the 14th century - so that, along with the temples of the Hellenistic period, you can find a medieval bakery.In the caves of Uplistsikhe, the favorite of the Georgian people, the holy Queen Tamara, was crowned king. . The park is well-equipped - you don’t need to climb high into the mountains to get to the city. Entrance for visitors is until 18 pm. It is best to arrive close to closing time, when the tour groups have already left and the time is approaching sunset. The landscape is filled with warm light and offers beautiful views of the valley at the foot of the cliffs.

And 63 km. famous city Borjomi. Known for its mineral water. Few people know that there is a small today, but ancient monastery in the gorge not far from Borjomi, if you leave it towards the National Park-Reserve. In 1551 it was captured and destroyed by the Persians, who beheaded more than 300 monks and threw them into a stream under the walls of the monastery. The skulls of executed monks found since then are kept in the bell tower today.Before the entrance to the main temple of the monastery there is a grave Russian novice - a native of Karelia, dated 2003.

If you drive 97 km beyond Mtskheta. towards Gori, there will be another holy place Bakuriani. This is a ski resort and the movie "Don't Cry" was filmed here. But in those places there is Vardzia Cave Monastery(13-story rock-hewn city), where the holy Queen Tamara spent her childhood. And in the town Akhaltsikhe Safar Monastery(XIII century) But as a rule, it is better to visit these places with a guide.
Solitary pilgrims go to Kutaisi. This is the second largest city in Georgia and is 197 km away from Tbilisi.

One of the main attractions of the city, the Bagrada Temple.On August 17, 2012, a two-meter bronze cross weighing 300 kg was installed on the dome of the Bagrati Temple. The cross was made according to the sketch of the architect Vano Gremelashvili. The cross will be visible from all points of Kutaisi. Georgian kings were crowned in this temple. It has been destroyed since the 17th century and was restored only in 2012 by President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Another holy place for all Georgians, the Gevati Temple. Georgian kings are buried hereBagration and David the Builder, you can see the brightest frescoes and mosaics in the apse, which began to decorate the temple in the 12th century. And from the cliff there is a view of Kutaisi.

The incredible liveliness of the monastery is amazing. Children are running around the lawn, old women are chatting on benches in the church, women and men are actively communicating with the clergy.

Motsameta Monastery.The main thing that pilgrims come here for is these are the relics of Saints David and Constantine, who defended nearby lands from Arab invaders, but were brutally tortured. The relics lie in a boat, which is not located on the ground, but in such a way that you can walk under it: local beliefs say that you need to go around it several times.
From Kutaisi 106 km. there is a city near the Abkhazian border Zugdidi.
This city contains the greatest shrines of world Christianity.Khobi Monastery(XIII century), in which they were stored until the 16th century. Robe of the Mother of God, and now the relics of St. George the Victorious (patron saint of Georgia), St. Marina, St. Quiriake .

Another main Christian center of Georgia is the Black Sea Batumi city near the Turkish border, capital of Adjara.

It is here in Adjara, 15 km. there is a place from Batumi Gonio, there is grave of the Apostle Matthew .
Three legends are associated with the fortress in Gonio, and all of them are extremely impressive: according to the first, Queen Tamara’s fortress was here, according to the second, Medea’s half-brother Apsyrtus visited here, searching for the Golden Fleece with the Argonauts, and according to the third, the Apostle Matthew is buried here.
Be that as it may, the fortress itself is very interesting: a very nice ancient water supply system with clay pipes, quite nice women’s jewelry, the remains of Roman baths were discovered in it (and this was a Roman fortress and was built conscientiously: an ideal square shape !).
There are also kiwis growing there (dangling right above the heads of tourists) and two hilarious rabbits living there: they are white with black ears, and one is called Gonio, and the other is Apsaros.

In Batumi itself there is a beautiful Cathedral of the Virgin Mary.Built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries by two brothers-entrepreneurs (they, of course, were more in charge of the process and distribution of finances) Zubalashvili, this church, at first glance, gives the impression of some kind of German church. However, the cathedral is still Orthodox, and this is especially noticeable inside, even though in Soviet times there was a high-voltage research laboratory here.

From Tbilisi towards the border of Azerbaijan, the region of Georgia is called, Kakheti. There are also Christian shrines there.

David Gareja (VI century) - a complex of Georgian cave monasteries, located 60 km southeast of Tbilisi, on the Georgian-Azerbaijani border, and stretching 25 km along the slopes of the semi-desert Gareja ridge. The state border between Georgia and Azerbaijan divides the David-Gareji monastery complex into two parts.The complex consists of about 20 monasteries carved into the rocks th and covers the territories of three regions of Georgia - Gardabani, Sagareji and Sighnakh. The main monastery is the Lavra of St. David, which is located on the northern slope of the mountain separating Georgia and Azerbaijan. The border runs along the top of the mountain, which Georgian historians call Udabno, after the name of one of the monasteries. This monastery is located on Azerbaijani territory - on the southern slope of the mountain. Another Chichkhikturi monastery and the Church of the Resurrection also stand on Azerbaijani territory. In addition to them, on the southern slope of the mountain there are more than 100 caves that were used by monks as cells. The most distant from the border is the Bertubani Monastery (dating from the 12th century), which is located at a distance of about two kilometers from it. And Iveron miraculous icon . The Bodbe temple is a tomb: Princess Elena (+ 1786), Metropolitan Kirill (Georjadze) of Bodbe, killed by the Lezgins in 1792, Exarch of Georgia Theophylact (Rusanov), who fell ill while viewing the churches of Kakheti (+ 1821), Metropolitan of Bodbe John (Makashvili) are buried here ) (+ 1837).

Today there are 33 Orthodox dioceses and 53 monasteries in Georgia, and therefore, of course, this story is far from complete and here we have displayed only the most visited holy places by foreign pilgrims and tourists. .

As one of the first countries to recognize Christianity as a state religion, Georgia has many Orthodox shrines. Kept in ancient monasteries and churches, they allow you to feel the true value of the Christian faith and immerse yourself in the fertile atmosphere of past centuries. It is almost impossible to examine all the relics of the state within the framework of one pilgrimage tour, but any tourist can visit the most interesting places where the most valuable icons and relics are kept.

Famous holy places in Georgia

Bodbe Monastery

The ancient Bodbe Monastery, located 2 km from the town of Sighnaghi in Kakheti, houses within its walls the relics of St. Nino, Equal to the Apostles, the great Enlightener of Georgia, whose sermons led all the inhabitants of the country to Christ. Born in 280, the preacher was engaged in apostolic asceticism for 35 years, and before her death she retired to the miniature town of Bodbe, where she was buried. After a while, the Church of St. George was erected over Nino’s grave, next to which a monastery complex arose.

The relics of the preacher are kept in the southern aisle of the temple. Every year thousands of pilgrims come to them, eager to venerate the sacred remains and visit the St. Nino spring, the water of which is considered healing. Along with the relics, the monastery contains another revered shrine - the myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. During the Soviet period, there was a hospital in the monastery, and the image still shows traces of a scalpel left there as a memory of the hospital past of the building.

Patriarchal Cathedral of Svetitskhoveli

Svetitskhoveli Temple is one of the most important spiritual centers of the Orthodox inhabitants of Georgia. The Cathedral is located in the city of Mtskheta and is one of the largest historical buildings in the state. Due to its rich and eventful history, as well as its significance for Christianity, it is included in the honorable list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The history of the shrine dates back to the 4th century, when, on the advice of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino, the Iberian king Mirian III built the first wooden church in the state. In the second half of the 5th century, a stone basilica was erected on the site of the church, and already in the 11th century the structure was replaced by a modern three-nave church, erected under the supervision of the architect Arsakidze.

According to legend, the tunic of Jesus Christ, which was brought to Georgia by Rabbi Eleazar, is kept under cover of the cathedral. During the execution, the clergyman was in Jerusalem and witnessed the lot cast on the clothes of the Savior. The place of burial of the tunic is indicated by the Life-Giving Pillar, at which in former times many miracles and healings were performed.

Samtavro Monastery

At the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers, on the territory of the city of Mtskheta, stands the majestic Samtavro monastery complex, consisting of the St. Nino Monastery and the Samtavro-Transfiguration Church. The structure was erected in the 4th century by order of King Mirian, who was subsequently buried within the walls of the temple. Despite repeated destruction and restoration, the complex managed to preserve the original ornaments, which have no analogues in Georgian architecture.

Inside the building there are many interesting shrines:

• the icon of St. Nino, which has miraculous effects;
• the relics of the anchorite Shio Mgvimsky and the preacher Abibos Nekressky;
• icon of the Iveron Mother of God;
• Queen Nana's grave;
• part of a stone from the burial site of Nino in the Bodbe Monastery.

Sioni Cathedral

The Sioni Temple in Tbilisi is one of the two main Orthodox buildings in Georgia. The building received its name in honor of Jerusalem’s Mount Zion, which in the Bible is called “the dwelling place of God.” The cathedral rises on the Kura coast in the historical center of the capital. The date of its foundation is called the 6th century, but over the past years the temple has been destroyed and rebuilt more than once.

The most valuable shrine of Sioni is the Cross of St. Nino, which, according to legend, the preacher received from the Mother of God before visiting Georgia. Woven from grapevine, after Nino’s death it was kept for a long time in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, then traveled to Armenian churches, visited Russia, and in 1801 returned to Georgia again. Today the cross is placed in a silver icon case next to the northern gate of the altar of the Sioni Temple.

Jvari Monastery

In terms of perfection and originality of architectural forms, the Jvari monastery near Mtskheta has no equal in Georgia. Being a masterpiece of Georgian architecture, the temple was the first in the country to be included in the UNESCO list. The building rises on the top of the mountain, where, according to ancient chronicles, Saint Nino installed the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.

The construction of the building took place in the 6th century. It was originally a small church, which today lies in ruins. In 604, a larger structure was inaugurated next to it, consecrated in honor of the Exaltation of the Cross. On its facades, ancient reliefs depicting ktitors have been preserved, and inside there is a modern cross, which contains particles of that ancient cross installed by Nino.

Other Georgian shrines

Traveling across the territory of Georgia, in the cities and small villages of the country you can see many other churches, cathedrals, monasteries, which contain truly revered relics:

• Monastery complex Shemokmedi – preserves the oldest Georgian icon, dating back to 886. The image of the Transfiguration of the Lord was brought to the temple from the Zarzm Monastery in the 16th century. Since that time, the icon has attracted thousands of pilgrims and tourists who come to relax in Western Georgia.
• Gelati Monastery – revered thanks to the tomb of King David the Builder. It is believed that Queen Tamara was buried under its foundation, although according to other sources, her ashes were later transported to the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.
• Cathedral of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God – the temple houses the relics of Saints John, George and Marina, a piece of the belt and robe of the Mother of God, as well as part of the sponge from which the Savior drank vinegar.
• – Pilgrims go to this holy place to venerate the relics of Saints Constantine and David, who were tortured by the Arab invaders.
• Metekhi Temple– is the burial place of Saint Abo of Tbilisi and Saint Shushanika, the first great martyr in Georgia, who died at the hands of her fire-worshipping husband.

On January 27, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Remembrance Day Saint Equal to the Apostles Nina, educators of Georgia. The Orthodox Church calls Equal-to-the-Apostles saints who are especially famous for preaching the Gospel and converting peoples to the Christian faith.

Girl from Cappadocia

Saint Nina Equal to the Apostles was born around 280 in Cappadocia. Her father, Zabulon, came from a noble family and was in the military service of Emperor Maximian, and her mother, Susanna, was the sister of the Jerusalem Patriarch Juvenal.

Nina was the only child of her parents. When the girl was 12 years old, she and her parents came to Jerusalem, where her mother became a deaconess at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and her father devoted his life to serving God in the deserts of Jordan.

Tales and dreams about the country of Iberia

Cross of St. Nina. Photo: wikipedia.org

At the age of 12, Nina was entrusted to be raised by Elder Nianfora, who often told her about Iveria (present-day Georgia), then still a pagan country. Hearing her stories, Nina wanted to visit Iberia.

One day the Most Pure Virgin appeared to Nina in a dream and handed over a cross woven from a vine, with the words: “Take this cross, it will be your shield and fence against all visible and invisible enemies. Go to the country of Iveron, preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there and you will find grace from Him. I will be your Patroness.”

Having awakened, Saint Nina saw a cross in her hands (now kept in a special ark in the Tbilisi Zion Cathedral), she rejoiced in spirit and, coming to her uncle, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, told about the vision. The Patriarch of Jerusalem blessed the young virgin for the feat of apostolic service.

Another time, the Savior appeared to Nina and gave her a scroll in which it was written: “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Baptism of Georgia

Having received the blessing of the patriarch and mother, Nina set off on the road. On the way to Iberia, Saint Nina miraculously escaped martyrdom from the Armenian king Tiridates, to which her companions—Princess Hripsimia, her mentor Gaiania and 35 girls who fled to Armenia from Rome from the persecution of Emperor Diocletian (284-305)—were subjected.

Very soon Nina became famous in the surrounding area, helping many suffering people. Having learned about the power of her prayers, people began to come to her. Many of them believed in God and were baptized.

Saint Nina healed the Georgian Queen Nana from a serious illness, who also received baptism and became a zealous Christian. King Mirian, despite the miraculous healing of his wife, listening to the pagans, hated Saint Nina and even wanted to put her to death. But one day while hunting he was caught in a thunderstorm, and he was blinded by lightning. The king promised to convert to Christianity if his sight returned. Saint Nina healed a supporter of paganism, and Mirian, along with his retinue, was baptized.

The chronicles tell that, through her prayers, it was revealed to Saint Nina where the Robe of the Lord was hidden, and the first Christian church in Georgia was erected there (initially a wooden, now a stone cathedral in honor of the 12 holy Apostles, Svetitskhoveli).

After several years, in 324, Christianity finally established itself in Iberia. A few years later, Nina went to Kakheti, where she converted Queen Sophia to Christianity.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta. Photo: RIA Novosti / Alexey Kudenko

Memorial Day of St. Nina

Having completed her apostolic service in Georgia, Saint Nina was informed from above of her imminent death. In a message to King Mirian, she asked him to send Bishop John to prepare her for her final journey. Not only Bishop John, but also the Tsar himself, together with all the clergy, went to Bodbe, where they witnessed many healings at the deathbed of St. Nina. Edifying the people who came to worship her, Saint Nina, at the request of her disciples, spoke about her origin and life. This story, written down Solomiya Ujarmskaya, served as the basis for the life of St. Nina.

Saint Nina bequeathed that her body should be buried in Bodbe. She died on January 27 (January 14, old style) 335 (according to other sources, in 347, in the 67th year from birth, after 35 years of apostolic exploits).

The tsar, clergy and people, grieving over the death of Saint Nina, wanted to transfer her remains to the Mtskheta cathedral church, but could not move the ascetic’s coffin from her chosen resting place. At this place in 342, King Mirian founded, and his son King Bakur (342-364) completed and consecrated a temple in the name of St. Nina’s relative, the Holy Great Martyr George; later a convent in the name of St. Nina was founded here.

The relics of the saint, hidden under a bushel by her command, were glorified by many healings and miracles. The Georgian Orthodox Church, with the consent of the Antiochian Patriarchate, named the enlightener of Georgia equal to the apostles and, canonizing her as a saint, established her memory on January 27, the day of her death.

Why is Saint Nina considered the patroness of Georgia?

In Georgia, Saint Nina is revered more than all the saints and is considered their patroness. She became famous for preaching the Gospel and converting the inhabitants of Iveria (present-day Georgia) to the Christian faith. In 326 AD. Christianity in ancient Georgia became the state religion thanks to the sermons of St. Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Bodbe Monastery. Photo: wikipedia.org

What is the holiday called in Georgia?

In Georgia, St. Nina's Day is called Ninooba. The Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Nino twice a year: January 27, the day of her death, and June 1, the day of her coming to Georgia. In the capital of Georgia alone, there are five churches erected in honor of the saint, and in the Zion Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God there is a cross made of grapevine, entwined with her hair.

How is the holiday celebrated in Georgia?

The Ninooba holiday is celebrated especially solemnly in Georgia. Services on this day are held not only in the capital, but also in all other Orthodox churches in the country. Every year in the summer, a large group of children, teenagers and young people make a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Equal-to-the-Apostles enlightener of Georgia.