OLD TBILISI

What an exciting afternoon traveling back a few centuries while visiting Mtskheta, an important trading center between the third century BC to the fifth century AD.  In 337 AD, King Mirian ordered the pagan temples destroyed and churches built. These cathedrals are judged to be the finest in Georgia. This entire city has now been made a state historical site.

This hillside structure is the Jvari Monastery, built between 580 and 604 AD. It is in the shape of a tetraconch (4 apsed) - like a flat cross. It is extraordinary because of it's being build on a very steep western slope. Later, I will have pictures of the cathedral from where I took the photo.

Inside the monastery church are small rooms. The whole church was carpeted with beautiful rugs (and we could even walk on them).

One of the monks who sold candles on the inside and took breaks by walking around on the outside.

A hexagonal altar stood in the middle of the church. An in one of the apses there was also a chancel with altar.

The altar is located behind the closed doors.

Outside the church hang these bells. The monastic buildings are located some distance down the road from this church.

Cheryl and John exit the church. It is appropriate for all women to wear a headscarf while in a church.

The church sits on the top of a peak. Women begging for coins line the stairs as you walk up to the sanctuary. That seems to be true of all of the churches we entered.

CLICK HERE to see a video outside of the ancient cathedral in which a man with his instrument sings and is joined by three young people.

The second church we visited was the Cathedral of Sveti-tskhoveli in Mtskheta, one of the most sacred places in all of Georgia. It contains the grave of Sidonia who was said to hae been buried holding Christ's robe.

A silver baptismal font is located in the entryway. Candles are located at almost every station.

Women were receiving the sign of the cross on their foreheads (olive oil?) almost as a kind of Ash Wednesday. Orthodox Easter here is celebrated in May, so we are now two weeks into the season of Lent.

It is said that the Apostle Andrew came to Georgia to share Jesus. In the Cathedral, you can find a purported bone relic from the foot of St. Andrew.

The conduct of worshippers is really unique at this (and other) cathedral. At the entry, people crossed themselves three times and then kissed one of the entry pillars, and, following the kiss, touched the pillar with the forehead. As they walked in the cathedral to see the icons/pictures, they made the sign of the cross, kissed, touched the forehead, and maybe made the sign of the cross once again. All of the worshippers were extremely reverent as they walked around the facility, crossing and kissing.

One of the nuns chants while the monk was swinging the pot of insence.

CLICK HERE to view incense and priest gathered before another special relic and icon.

One of the common games in Georgia is backgammon.

What a pleasant composure on this gentleman who willingly let me take his photograph.

Remember the bread that we bought for $ .55 yesterday? This is another oven. The woman prepared and stretched the dough (on a cardboard-like platform) and then slapped it on the side of the hot oven. When it was thoroughly baked, it dropped off of the wall of the oven (if she did not catch it in time).

After touring the church and the cathedral, we needed a rest from walking, so we stopped at this little "drinking area" run by an older local gentleman.

At the end of our "church tour" we stopped for a beer at a home (usually a second business). I had to use the bathroom in their home and here snapped a shot of their bathtub.