There are four UNESCO heritage sites in Georgia and we had the chance to visit the Holy Cross Monastery of Jvari and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral included in the hisorical monuments of Mtskheta.Mtskheta was the old capital of Georgia and it was from this place that Christanity was adopted as the state religion of Georgia.
Jvari Monastery was the first stop.It is about 20 km from Tbilisi and is on top of Mount Armazi.
According to legend Saint Nino who brought christanity to Georgia erected a wooden cross at this site and a church was built over the remnants in c .545.The entrance to the monastery
From the top we can see the confluence of Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers.
I had a feeling of deja vu.This is the confluence of indus and zanskar rivers at Nimmu in Leh I had seen two years back.
It was a cold windy day and we could not stay long outside.Inside the church there were few worshippers..We also lit candles and stood in reverence .
Though the church looks well preserved it is facing damage from the rains and strong winds and is on the 100 Most Endangered Sites List of the World Monument Fund.
This monastery does not have impressive frescoes or statues like most of the churches we saw in Tbilisi but it has its own simple charm.
Soon it was time to leave St.Nino and go to the first orthodox church in Georgia.