Metekhi Temple - the symbol of Tbilisi

Making a walk through the capital of Georgia, you can not ignore the Old Town. It is there, on the right-bank part, you will see a grayish massif on the rock, which, it seems, is about to fall right into the river. Here is the Metekhi temple - a landmark of Tbilisi, recognized as a true symbol of the ancient city.

The difficult fate of the Orthodox Church

Tbilisi is an ancient city that survived many blows of fate. Did not pass this fate and the temple. In ancient times, next to it was a magnificent palace of kings, surrounded by many buildings and strong walls.

This neighborhood only emphasized the greatness of the temple. But in 1255 the Tatar-Mongolian army attacks Georgia, erases the palace complex from the face of the earth and inflicts severe damage on the church itself. A couple of centuries later, the structure is captured by the Turks, and then by the Persians. Metekhi Temple in Tbilisi came to us only thanks to the perseverance and love of the Georgian rulers. Each king considered it his sacred duty to revive this ancient building.

The building, which appears before our eyes today, was rebuilt in the XIII century, and the dome was erected in the XVIII. Waited for the change of the Metekha temple and at the time of Georgia's entry into the Russian Empire. Then the prison was organized in the building. Only in the Soviet years, the miracle of architecture was freed from such a fate. During the reign of Stalin, Beria planned to raze the church to the ground. Artist Dmitry Shevardnadze in the late 30-ies of the XX century resolutely opposed this order, for which, of course, he paid with his life. Not afraid of execution, this hero saved an ancient building, a symbol of Tbilisi. For the parishioners, the church opened its doors only in 1988.

Why is the church so named?

Researchers believe that once the Metekhi temple was originally erected at the palace complex, then its name goes from there. After all, in the translation from the Greek language "palace" sounds like "metohija". No one knows for what reason this place in the documents is initially named in the plural form ("mettechni", "metekhta"). According to researchers, this word is first used by King Demetre I, but, perhaps, he meant the village of Metekhi. The name of the church in the modern version is known and used since the XVIII century.

Tsarina Shushanik as one of the symbols of the Metekhi temple

In the temple, the icon of the great martyr queen Shushanik is kept. Any parishion who knows the history of this woman, prays before her face and asks her to fulfill her desire. Shushanik lived during the reign of King Vakhtang I Gorgosala and was the wife of the ruler of the southern part of Kartli Vasken. During one of his military campaigns, he renounced the faith and took Zoroastrianism. The ruler publicly refused the first wife and took the daughter of the shah to his wife, promising that his former family would follow his example.

Hearing about the thoughts of the unfaithful husband, Shushanik did not leave the cell and prayed for herself and the children. At the feast, which she had to visit after the relatives' persuasions, Vasken forces his wife to accept a new faith, but she refuses. Then the ruler beats the woman and throws him into the dungeon at the palace. Care for her took the priest-Christians. When Vasken returns from the next military campaign even more embittered, he grabs Shushanik, drags her with a drag along the thorns and throws him into the dungeon forever.

Six long years the former queen spent in prison and incessantly prayed for the people coming to her. It is believed that through her prayers, people were given the fulfillment of their desires. In 475, the queen Shushanik falls ill and dies. The relics of the Great Martyr were buried near the Metekhi temple.

Interiors of the Christian shrine

The official name of the Orthodox cathedral is the church in the name of the Assumption of the Virgin. The interior of the temple has changed significantly over the long centuries of its existence. Formerly once circular arches became lancet. It is the merit of the restoration of the XVIII century. Many of the murals are not preserved, so the walls of the building are mostly gray. But here are stored holy icons, dear to the parishioners. One of them is called "100,000 Metekhi martyrs" and hangs on the wall of the temple on the south side.

The icon depicting the face of St. Abo, written in oil, is so blackened by time that it is difficult to distinguish the image on it. Be sure to pay attention to the portico of the church. This is a complex structure made of stone, which has survived to our times unchanged. Here, even patterns in the form of grapevines, popular in the XIII century, are preserved. The Metekhi Temple, the only one in Tbilisi, is the guardian of this type of carving. To be a guest of the capital of Georgia and not to visit the Christian shrine is impossible.

Where is the Metekha temple in Tbilisi?

The church is located in the Old Town on the banks of the Kura River, at the bridge of the same name. Address: rise Metekhi, 1. This area is a very attractive place for walking, here you can see many interesting things. It's easy to get here. There are two ways to do this:

• By metro, after reaching the station "Avlabari".
• By bus, ride to the stop "European Square". Here the following routes run: 31, 44, 50, 55, 71, 80, 102.

If you travel by private vehicle, getting to the place will be even easier. The church is open for visitors from 9 to 16 hours. The entrance to the Metekhi temple is free, but donations are not prohibited.

Tourists visiting Georgia for the first time need to visit this wonderful church, because it is a visiting card of the city.