Anchiskhati Basilica

The Anchiskhati Basilica (Georgian ანჩისხატი ) is a church building in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. It is among the oldest religious buildings in Georgia and housed in the 18th century one of the first educational institutions of the city.

She was a three-nave built in the 6th century by the heirs of King Vakhtang I. Gorgassalis, Datschi Udscharmeli. In 1675 it was supplemented by the priest Domenty to a free-standing bell tower made ​​of brick. In 1958, the church was the occasion of the 1500 anniversary of Tbilisi completely restored.

The original name of the church is unknown. Your common name is today a supposedly miraculous Savior icon from the 12th century borrowed, which was kept in the church since the 17th century and is on display at the State Museum of Arts of Georgia in Tbilisi. The silver icon (Georgian Chati ) came from the Antschi church in southern Georgia. Its creator was Beka Opisari, a silver embossing master of his era.

The church was home to one of the first educational institutions of Tbilisi. 1755 an ecclesiastical seminary was set up in her yard. Under the direction of Philipp Kaitmasaschwili grammar, literature, logic, mathematics and physics were taught there.

The nine-member choir of the Basilica Anchiskhati maintains medieval polyphonic church and folk music from Georgia. It was founded in 1989, immediately after the exercise of church music was allowed again in Georgia.

On 29 August, the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates the day of the apostles Anchiskhati Basilica (Georgian Antschischatoba ).