Jvari (monastery)

The monastery Djvari (Georgian ჯვარი, ჯვრის მონასტერი, Dschwris monasteri ) is a Georgian Orthodox monastery of the 6th century near Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia. The name is translated as Cross Monastery. 1996 Djvari was recorded together with other monuments of Mtskheta in the World Heritage list of UNESCO.

History

According to tradition, the sacred Nino, which is said to have brought Christianity to Georgia, had erected at the present site of the monastery a cross in the 4th century.

A first small church was built in the year 545 I. Kuropalat under the ruling prince Guaram. This church has been preserved only as a ruin north of the present church today. Under Guarams successors, Stefanos I. and I. Adarnase Patrikios today's larger, located next to the church was built in 586-605. This church is 25 m high, 20.2 m long and 16.5 m wide. The exposed location high above the city of Mtskheta at the confluence of the two rivers Kura and Aragwi ( Mtkvari ) it is visible from afar. Djvari served as a model church for many other churches in the region.

Relief

Internally

View from a distance

View from Djvari to Mtskheta