⛪ Jvari Monastery
Georgia
About This Sacred Site
Jvari Monastery is a 6th-century Georgian Orthodox monastery perched on a rocky mountaintop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, overlooking the ancient capital of Mtskheta. The name means 'Cross,' as tradition holds that St. Nino erected a large wooden cross on this spot in the 4th century to mark Georgia's conversion to Christianity. The tetraconchal church, built between 586 and 605 CE, was one of the first of its architectural type and became a model for medieval Georgian church architecture.
Key Facts
- •Built between 586 and 605 CE
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994
- •Named for the cross erected by St. Nino in the 4th century
- •Overlooks the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers
- •Pioneered the tetraconchal (four-apsed) church design
Location
Coordinates: 41.7383, 44.7333
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