{"id":10973,"date":"2026-10-19T13:06:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T11:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/?p=10973"},"modified":"2026-10-19T13:15:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T11:15:55","slug":"a-pilgrimage-to-the-holy-sites-of-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/opste\/a-pilgrimage-to-the-holy-sites-of-georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"A Pilgrimage to the Holy Sites of Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The group was led by the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Nenad Popovi\u0107, Archpriest for Northern Britain and Ireland and parish priest in Birmingham. Common prayer, veneration of holy sites and an exploration of the rich spiritual heritage of the Georgian Orthodox Church marked this seven-day pilgrimage through ancient Iberia, the land of Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia.<\/p>\n

Day One \u2014 The Holy Sites of Mtskheta<\/h2>\n

The pilgrimage began with a visit to Shio-Mgvime Monastery, associated with the ascetic life of Saint Shio of Mgvime, one of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers who came to Georgia in the sixth century. Surrounded by rocky landscapes, the monastery continues to bear witness to the life of prayer, silence and ascetic struggle of its founder.<\/p>\n

The group then visited Samtavro Monastery, where the pilgrims venerated the relics of Saint Gabriel of Georgia. Encountering the shrine of this great ascetic of our time reminded them of his love for God and his fellow man, his humility and his unwavering faith.<\/p>\n

In the ancient capital of Mtskheta, the pilgrims visited Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, one of Georgia\u2019s most significant holy sites, where, according to Church tradition, the Robe of the Lord is preserved. The first day concluded with a visit to Jvari Monastery, dedicated to the Holy Cross and perched above the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers.<\/p>\n

Day Two \u2014 Monasteries and Witnesses to MartyrdomOn the second day, the pilgrims visited Kintsvisi Monastery, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Dating from the thirteenth century, during the golden age of Georgian culture, the church is particularly renowned for its frescoes, among which the celebrated Kintsvisi Angel stands out.<\/p>\n

The journey continued to Ubisa Monastery, dedicated to Saint George the Great Martyr. Founded in the ninth century, this ancient holy site preserves precious fourteenth-century frescoes, which testify to the richness of Georgian ecclesiastical art.<\/p>\n

At Motsameta Monastery, the pilgrims venerated the relics of the holy brothers David and Constantine, who suffered martyrdom at the hands of Arab conquerors in the eighth century. The tradition surrounding their martyrdom is associated with the Tskaltsitela River \u2014 meaning \u201cRed Water\u201d \u2014 which flows below the monastery and, through its name, preserves the memory of the blood shed by the martyrs.<\/p>\n

Day Three \u2014 From Kutaisi to TbilisiAfter visiting the market in Kutaisi and gaining an insight into everyday life in the region, the group visited Bagrati Cathedral, dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Built in the eleventh century during the reign of King Bagrat III, the cathedral stands as an important testament to Georgia\u2019s ecclesiastical and national history.<\/p>\n

In the village of Ateni, near the town of Gori, the pilgrims visited Ateni Sioni Church, dating from the seventh century. Named after Mount Zion in Jerusalem, this church occupies a special place in Georgia\u2019s spiritual and artistic heritage, owing to its architecture and precious frescoes.<\/p>\n

Upon arriving in Tbilisi, the group visited Sioni Cathedral, the Georgian capital\u2019s longstanding spiritual centre. The cathedral houses the Cross of Saint Nina and other great holy relics, as well as the tomb of Saint John of Manglisi. Particular interest was drawn to an account concerning a copy of the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and the image of the Mother of God which, according to the account given at the church, had remained imprinted on its protective glass.<\/p>\n

The pilgrims also offered prayers in remembrance of the departed Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, Ilia II, who is buried in the cathedral.<\/p>\n

Day Four \u2014 Holy Sites and the Beauty of the CaucasusOn the fourth day, the journey followed the famous Georgian Military Highway towards Stepantsminda, passing through the magnificent landscapes of the Greater Caucasus.<\/p>\n

The first stop was Ananuri Fortress and the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, from where the pilgrims enjoyed views over the Zhinvali Reservoir. The journey continued across the Jvari Pass and through mountainous terrain, with its pastures and flocks of sheep and horses.<\/p>\n

Travelling in off-road vehicles, the pilgrims ascended to the Holy Trinity Church of Gergeti, situated at approximately 2,170 metres above sea level. Snow and dense clouds obscured the summit of Mount Kazbek, but prayer in this holy church and the beauty of the snow-covered mountain landscape left a deep impression on all those taking part.<\/p>\n

On the return journey, the group visited the Russia\u2013Georgia Friendship Monument in Gudauri. The day concluded with a shared dinner at Chabarukhi Restaurant in the town of Pasanauri.<\/p>\n

Day Five \u2014 Divine Liturgy and the Holy Sites of TbilisiThe fifth day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at Sioni Cathedral. Common prayer in this ancient church formed the centrepiece of a day devoted to discovering the holy sites and history of Tbilisi.<\/p>\n

Following the Liturgy, the pilgrims visited Metekhi Church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, which houses the relics of Saint Shushanik, also known as Susanna, a fifth-century martyr.<\/p>\n

The group also learned about the martyrdom of the One Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi. According to Church tradition, in 1226, during the conquest of the city, they refused to trample upon the holy icons or renounce Christ, choosing instead to suffer martyrdom. Their witness to faithfulness to Christ left a profound impression on the pilgrims.<\/p>\n

The next stop was the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, known as Sameba, where the group explored part of this magnificent complex, constructed between 1995 and 2004.<\/p>\n

A cable car then carried the pilgrims to the area of Narikala Fortress and the monument to Kartlis Deda, the Mother of Georgia. The bowl of wine in her left hand symbolises hospitality, while the sword in her right represents the readiness to defend the land against its enemies. The walk back through the Old Town provided an opportunity to discover Tbilisi\u2019s historic streets and distinctive character.<\/p>\n

Crossing the Bridge of Peace, the group made its way towards the riverfront, and the day concluded with an evening cruise along the Mtkvari River, enjoying fellowship and views of the illuminated city.<\/p>\n

Day Six \u2014 The Gareji Desert and the Monastery of Saint NinaThe sixth day began with a visit to Anchiskhati Basilica, the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi, dating from the sixth century and situated near the group\u2019s accommodation. Its name is associated with the ancient icon of the Saviour, transferred from the Monastery of Ancha and preserved in this church for centuries.<\/p>\n

The journey then continued southwards to the Monastery of Saint David Gareji, near the border with Azerbaijan. In this desert landscape, surrounded by rocks and monastic caves, the pilgrims learned about the ascetic life of Saint David, one of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers.<\/p>\n

Of particular note was the tradition concerning his journey to the Holy Land. Considering himself unworthy to enter Jerusalem, Saint David took three stones as a blessing and began his return journey. According to tradition, two of the stones were retrieved, while one remained with him and was brought back to Georgia. The pilgrims also heard about Saint Dodo, a disciple of Saint David, and the martyrdom of thousands of monks of the Gareji Desert in the seventeenth century.<\/p>\n

Following their visit to the monastery, the group was welcomed at the Muzz\u00e9 family winery. The hosts presented their wine-making methods and provided lunch, accompanied by a tasting of local wines and traditional Georgian beverages.<\/p>\n

The day concluded with a visit to Bodbe Monastery, the burial place of Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia. Venerating her tomb was a particular blessing and an opportunity to give thanks in prayer to the saint who preached the Gospel in the fourth century and led the Georgian people to Christ.<\/p>\n

Day Seven \u2014 Divine Liturgy and a Visit to the Home of Saint GabrielThe final day of the pilgrimage began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at Sioni Cathedral. Common prayer in this ancient holy site brought to a fitting close the days spent exploring the spiritual heritage of Orthodox Georgia.<\/p>\n

The group then visited the home of Saint Gabriel of Georgia and his chapel. The pilgrims had the opportunity to learn more about the place where he lived and pursued his ascetic life, leaving with a profound impression of the faith, humility and love of this saint, whose witness continues to lead many people to Christ.<\/p>\n

Giving thanks to God for the gift of this pilgrimage, the pilgrims returned to their homes carrying memories of the holy sites, the hospitality of the Georgian people and the joy of praying together. Their encounters with places associated with the ascetic struggles and martyrdom of Georgian saints served as a call to renew their own faith and to strive with even greater zeal in their daily lives to love God and their neighbours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The group was led by the Very Reverend Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Nenad Popovi\u0107, Archpriest for Northern Britain and Ireland and parish priest in Birmingham. Common prayer, veneration of holy sites and an exploration of the rich spiritual heritage of the Georgian Orthodox Church marked this seven-day pilgrimage through ancient Iberia, the land of Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":10975,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[246,279],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opste","category-parohija-u-birmingamu"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10973"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10976,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10973\/revisions\/10976"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.uk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}