Alaverdi Monastery ( ka, ალავერდის მონასტერი, tr) is a Georgian Eastern Orthodox

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

located from

Akhmeta Akhmeta ( ) is a town in Kakheti, Georgia, and is the administrative centre of Akhmeta Municipality. It is situated on the left side of Alazani, close to the Pankisi Gorge. The town is situated at 567 m. In 1966, it received the status of '' Kala ...

, in the

Kakheti Kakheti (; ) is a region of Georgia. Telavi is its administrative center. The region comprises eight administrative districts: Telavi, Gurjaani, Qvareli, Sagarejo, Dedoplistsqaro, Signagi, Lagodekhi and Akhmeta. Kakhetians speak the ...

region of Eastern

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

. While parts of the monastery date back to 6th century, the present day Cathedral of

Saint George Saint George (;Geʽez: ጊዮርጊስ, , ka, გიორგი, , , died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was an early Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to holy tradition, he was a soldier in the ...

was built in the 11th century by

Kvirike III of Kakheti Kvirike III the Great ( ka, კვირიკე III დიდი, ''Kvirike III Didi'') (died 1037/39) was a ruler of Kakheti and Hereti in eastern Georgia from 1010 (effectively from 1014) to 1037 or 1039. Reign Kvirike succeeded upon the ...

, replacing an older church of St. George. It is considered one of the four Great Cathedrals of the Georgian Orthodox world.

History

The monastery was founded by the Assyrian monk Joseph (Yoseb, Amba) Alaverdeli, who came from

Antioch Antioch on the Orontes (; , ) "Antioch on Daphne"; or "Antioch the Great"; ; ; ; ; ; ; . was a Hellenistic Greek city founded by Seleucus I Nicator in 300 BC. One of the most important Greek cities of the Hellenistic period, it served as ...

and settled in Alaverdi, then a small village and former pagan religious center dedicated to the Moon. At a height of over , Alaverdi Cathedral was the tallest religious building in Georgia, until the construction of the

Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi ( ka, თბილისის წმინდა სამების საკათედრო ტაძარი ''Tbilisis tsminda samebis sakatedro tadzari''), commonly known as Sameba ( ka, სა� ...

, which was consecrated in 2004. However its overall size is smaller than the cathedral of

Svetitskhoveli The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral ( ka, სვეტიცხოვლის საკათედრო ტაძარი, ''svet'icxovlis sak'atedro t'adzari'' ; literally the Cathedral of the Living Pillar) is an Orthodox Christian cathedral locat ...

Mtskheta Mtskheta ( ka, მცხეთა} ) is a city in the Mkhare, region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia (country), Georgia. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is locat ...

. The monastery is the focus of the annual religious celebration

Alaverdoba Alaverdoba ( ka, ალავერდობა) is a religious and folk celebration in the eastern Georgian province of Kakheti, with its roots in a harvest festival. It focuses on Alaverdi Cathedral from which it derives its name, with the suf ...

. Situated in the heart of the world's oldest

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented fruit. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Wine is most often made f ...

region, the monks also make their own wine, known as Alaverdi Monastery Cellar. The cellar has been dated to between the 10th and 12th centuries.

Burials

* Ketevan of Kakheti *

Teimuraz I of Kakheti Teimuraz I ( ka, თეიმურაზ I; 1589–1663), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was a Georgian monarch ('' mepe'') who ruled, with intermissions, as King of Kakheti from 1605 to 1648 and also of Kartli from 1625 to 1633. The eldest son of ...

References

{{Georgian Churches Georgian Orthodox monasteries World Heritage Tentative List

History

Burials

See also

References