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Georgia

Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

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Places to see

Georgia

Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Recommended by 25 hikers out of 26

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Location: Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia

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Best Hikes to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

4.1

(12)

hikers

1. Chapel of St. Nino – Jvari Monastery loop from Mtskheta

10.8km

03:02

200m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.0

(1)

hikers

2. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral – Tbilisi Street Market loop from Mtskheta

4.91km

01:17

40m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Andi

November 4, 2023

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral marks one of the oldest locations for a church in Georgia. The building that stands today in downtown Mtskheta is no longer the original building from late antiquity that was first built here. Like so many other buildings in Georgia, the Svetitskhoveli Church was repeatedly damaged and destroyed by conquerors. In addition, several earthquakes damaged the church building.

For centuries, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was the coronation and burial church of Georgian kings from the Bagratid dynasty. It is also the main church of the Georgian Orthodox Apostles Church. Today's church is the second largest church building in Georgia after the Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi.

The name of the church means “life-giving pillar”.

Source: georgienseite.de/georgien-kultur/georgische-kultur-geschichte-kulturerbe-georgien/swetizchoweli

Translated by Google •

Andi

November 4, 2023

The current Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was built between 1010 and 1029 on the initiative of the Georgian Catholicos Melkizedek during the reign of King George II. The architect was the Georgian architect Arsukidze. On the inner north wall in the church there is a hand carved from stone, above which is the saying: “The hand of the slave of God Arsukidze. Remember him” is carved. The master builder is said to have had his hand cut off after the building was completed so that he would never create such a building again. The Georgian writer Konstantin Gamsakhurdia also described this legend in his novel “The Master's Right Hand”.

In 1787, King Herakli II surrounded the cathedral with a five-meter-high wall made of natural stone and bricks. The crown of the wall is designed to defend the church and is reinforced with battlements.

Source: georgienseite.de/georgien-kultur/georgische-kultur-geschichte-kulturerbe-georgien/swetizchoweli

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Life in Travel

March 4, 2022

The old capital of Georgia holds a truly wonderful cathedral to visit!

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Details

Informations

Elevation 480 m

Weather

Today

Saturday 20 September

19°C

12°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

1. Chapel of St. Nino – Jvari Monastery loop from Mtskheta

2. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral – Tbilisi Street Market loop from Mtskheta

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