Jvari - Monastery of the Holy Cross, over time attracts an increasing number of pilgrims. The temple is located in the picturesque area of Mtskheta, on the top of the mountain. In the reviews, tourists write that in this place the words of the Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov are remembered, because it is here that the “streams of Aragvi and Kura” merge and, making noise with foamy waves, rush to ancient Tbilisi.
A significant part of the monastery is destroyed, although the Great Church is still used for major religious holidays and solemn weddings. The complex is on the list of UNESCO sites in danger of destruction. The global community is allocating significant funds to support it.
A story woven from facts and legends
Mtskheta was the place where in 334 Georgia adopted Christianity. To this day, it remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Jvari, or, as it is also called, the Monastery of the Cross, is considered one of the oldest in the Caucasus. Historians believe that it was built on the site where the saintNino, a female missionary, created the first Christian community in the 4th century. According to legend, she stopped here and prayed for a long time, and then stuck a cross into the ground. Already by 545, the first temple was erected in this place. Later it was called the Small Church of Jvari. Unfortunately, it has not survived.
The second and larger temple, called the Great Church of Jvari, was built nearby, between 586 and 605. Presumably, the remains of the patron saint of Georgia rest under the foundation of the monastery. This place is considered the most sacred not only in the country, but throughout the North Caucasus region.
Architectural style
Jvari Monastery is a vivid example of the assimilation of Eastern and Western values, adapted to the local artistic culture and natural conditions. The small beautiful symmetrical building was the culmination of early Christian-Georgian architecture and absorbed a whole range of artistic and architectural aspirations of the ancient builders.
The temple is made according to the tetraconch type (four apses are arranged in the form of a cross with a slightly elongated east-west axis). The decisions made on the basis of careful calculations are still impressive and testify to the centuries-old building tradition of Georgia.
Deep niches between four semicircular apses lead to corner rooms. The southwestern wing had only one entrance and was intended for women. The wide open octagon of the central room is crowned with a low dome that rises from the load-bearingwalls in three tiers.
Exterior and Interior
The slender interior of the temple evokes calm, harmony and mysterious spiritual grandeur, no doubt enhanced by the absence of mosaics and other decorations. The room is illuminated minimally (by small window-slits and candles), so it looks somewhat dark and thoughtful. Above the altar stands a wooden cross - this is the whole decoration of the temple. The decoration clearly shows the influence of Sasanian art.
The same severity applies to appearance. The evenly spaced stone blocks and the careful balance of the four façades forming the "arms of the cross" were an outstanding building achievement, especially considering the technical difficulties of the time and the location of the western part of the building over a steep slope. Among the bas-reliefs of the eastern wall, one can find portraits of kings and bears who built the Jvari Monastery, and explanatory inscriptions in Georgian. In this, one can note the influence of Hellenistic traditions.
The exterior of the church is in complete harmony with the interior space and is artistically independent. This feature makes the church different from the Byzantine churches, in which the organization of the internal space is a big priority.
How to get to Jvari Monastery?
According to the reviews of tourists, the distance from Tbilisi to Mtskheta is about 19 kilometers, which takes up to 20 minutes by car.
Municipal minibuses run daily. ATSunday the number of flights decreases sharply. The stop in Tbilisi is located at the market (Didube metro station. The price of the subway ticket is fixed - 0.50 lari - and does not depend on the distance). Coming out of the metro, you need to pass a number of one-story shops and turn right. From here there are many minibuses in different directions. The ticket can be bought at the box office or paid directly to the driver. The fare is 1 lari.
Reviews of tourists warn that if there is no desire to overpay, then you should not pay attention to taxi drivers loitering there - they may report that minibuses do not reach Jvari Monastery or their services will cost less. It won't be true.
You can also get there by your own car or taxi. If you use the services of a private carrier, then before you get into the car, you need to agree on a price. The cost ranges from 10 to 20 GEL. Pooling will be cheaper, because the amount is divided among all passengers.
Helpful tips
In the reviews of tourists who have already visited the Georgian shrine, you can read some recommendations. So, among other things:
- Pilgrims and simply inquisitive people must follow certain rules of conduct when visiting Jvari Monastery. Photo and video filming of some fragments is strictly prohibited. Special signs placed around the territory help not to be mistaken.
- The fairer sex should have 2 scarves with them. One should cover her head, the second, if a woman is wearing trousers, it is necessarytie around, imitating a skirt. If you don’t have a blanket with you, you don’t have to be upset - there are aprons and scarves hanging at the entrance to the temple, which you will be offered to use.
Mtskheta is famous for metal products and enamel applied on it. The Jvari Monastery has opened a small souvenir shop on its territory, where you can buy a trinket, a cross, a chain, as well as a calendar, a magnet, a book, a rosary or consecrated water as a keepsake of your visit.
In addition, tourists say that the food in the restaurants of Mtskheta is very tasty and much cheaper than the same in Tbilisi.
Accommodation in Mtskheta will also bring less damage to the budget than directly in the Georgian capital, and the relative proximity to the main city of the country and good transport links with it will allow you to explore other nearby attractions.
What else to see in Mtskheta?
In 2004, the Jvari Monastery was added to the List of the World Monuments Fund. Georgia in the region of Mtskheta is also rich in other monumental buildings. So, in the reviews of tourists who have been here, they mention:
Svetitskhoveli (Life-Giving Pillar) is one of the most sacred places in Georgia along with the Jvari Monastery. The cathedral was built in 1010 where the country's first Christian church stood. It contains the graves of ancient Georgian kings, including Sidoni, who, according to legend, was buried with the mantle of Christ in his hands
- Samtavro (Place of the Ruler)located north of the main road, within walking distance from Svetitskhoveli. According to legend, St. Nino prayed at this place, and then a small church was built here, dating back to the 4th century. In the 11th century, a larger church was erected here. It still contains the graves of the Georgian king Mirian, who converted to Christianity, and his wife Nana.
- Bebris Tsikhe (Fortress of the Elder) is located up the main road from Samtavro. In the reviews, tourists report that wandering through the ruins of the citadel is quite fun, but unsafe. From the top, a valley opens, formed by the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers.
