#Stepanoz I King of Iberia
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Mtskheta, Jvari Monastery, Svetistkhoveli Church Georgia
Mtskheta Orthodox Church The daytrip to Mtskheta, Jvari Monastery, and Svetistkhoveli Cathedral was very educational. The historical area in central-eastern Georgia is wrapped in a peaceful environment of lush greenery and expansive mountain vistas. The stunning area is located about 12 miles north of Tbilisi at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers. Mtskheta is home to UNESCO World…
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#"Mtskheta Ancient Capital of Kartli East Georgian Kingdom 3rd Century BC to 5th Century AD#Aragvi River#Asomtavruli Script#Catholicos Patriarch Melkisedec#Caucasus Region#Christ&039;s Robe Svetistkhoveli Cathedral#Gates of the Katholikos Melchizedek#Georgian Christianity#Georgian Hagiography#Georgian Kingdom of Kartli#Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church#Golgotha#Great Silk Road#Holy Cross Monastery of Jvari#Javari Church of the Holy Cross#Jvari Monastery#Medieval Georgia#Mirian III First Christian King of Georgia#Mtkvari River#Mtskheta#Mtskheta Jew Elioz#Mtskheta Old Capital City of Georgia#Samtavro Monastery#St. Nino#Stepanoz I King of Iberia#Svetistkhoveli Cathedral#Svetitskhoveli Cathedral#Tetraconch#UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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Jvari Monastery stands on the rocky mountaintop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, overlooking the town of Mtskheta, which was formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia.
According to traditional accounts, on this location in the early 4th century Saint Nino, a female evangelist credited with converting King Mirian III of Iberia to Christianity, erected a large wooden cross on the site of a pagan temple. The cross was reportedly able to work miracles and therefore drew pilgrims from all over the Caucasus. A small church was erected over the remnants of the wooden cross in c.545 named the “Small Church of Jvari”.
The present building, or “Great Church of Jvari”, is generally held to have been built between 590 and 605 by Erismtavari Stepanoz I. This is based on the Jvari inscriptions on its facade which mentions the principal builders of the church: Stephanos the patricius, Demetrius the hypatos, and Adarnase the hypatos. Professor Cyril Toumanoff disagrees with this view, identifying these individuals as Stepanoz II, Demetre (brother of Stepanoz I), and Adarnase II (son of Stepanoz II), respectively.[1]
The importance of Jvari complex increased over time and attracted many pilgrims. In the late Middle Ages, the complex was fortified by a stone wall and gate, remnants of which still survive. During the Soviet period, the church was preserved as a national monument, but access was rendered difficult by tight security at a nearby military base. After the independence of Georgia, the building was restored to active religious use. Jvari was listed together with other monuments of Mtskheta in 1994 as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
However, over the centuries the structures suffered damage from rain and wind erosion and inadequate maintenance. Jvari was listed in the 2004 World Monuments Watch list by the World Monuments Fund.
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