Pilgrimage Tour to Mtskheta

A pilgrimage tour to Mtskheta, one of the oldest and most culturally significant cities in Georgia, promises a unique experience for pilgrims and tourists. Mtskheta is a historic city in Georgia, located 20 kilometers north of the capital Tbilisi. In 1994, the historic center of Mtskheta was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the oldest cities in Georgia, archaeological excavations trace human settlements in the area of Mtskheta back to the 3rd-2nd millennium BC.

Such a pilgrimage tour will not only enrich the spiritual experience but also allow travelers to immerse themselves in the rich history and culture of Georgia.

Tour Duration: 1 day

Samtavro Monastery
Borjomi - Church of St. Gabriel
Bethania Monastery

Saint Gabriel of Samtavro

Saint Gabriel of Samtavro (Urgebadze) is one of the most famous, revered, and beloved elders not only in Georgia but throughout the Orthodox world.

Gabriel of Samtavro (Georgian: არქიმანდრიტი გაბრიელი, birth name Goderdzi Vasilievich Urgebadze, Georgian: გოდერძი ვასილის ძე ურგებაძე; August 26, 1929, Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR — November 2, 1995, Mtskheta, Georgia) was an Orthodox saint and an archimandrite of the Georgian Orthodox Church. He was canonized by the Georgian Orthodox Church on December 20, 2012, as a saint. On December 25, 2014, he was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church. His feast day is November 2. He is venerated by all Orthodox Churches.

Pilgrims from all over the world come to the Monastery of St. Nino in Samtavro, in the city of Mtskheta, to pray at the relics of Saint Gabriel. To this day, many miraculous healings occur through Saint Gabriel's intercession. Books about his teachings, life, and miraculous healings have been published in multiple languages worldwide.

Monastery of St. Nino - Samtavro

Pilgrimage Tour to Mtskheta

Monastery of St. Nino - Samtavro

The first church on this site was built in the 4th century by King Mirian III.

The temple was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. In the first half of the 11th century, during the reign of King George I, under the order of Catholicos-Patriarch Melchizedek I, the temple was expanded, southern gates were added, and it was adorned with unique ornaments unlike anything else in Georgian architecture.

The church houses many relics: part of the life-giving pillar, the miraculous icon of the Iveron Mother of God, the miraculous icon of St. Nino donated by King George XII to his grandchildren in 1870, the tombs of the holy kings Mirian and Nana, the relics of Saint Abibos of Nekresi (under the altar), the relics of Saints Shio of Mgvime and Gabriel of Samtavro (Urgebadze), a piece of the stone from the tomb of St. Nino in Bodbe, and other relics.

Founded: 4th - 11th centuries

Betania Monastery

Pilgrimage Tour

Betania Monastery

The Betania Monastery, dedicated to the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary, is better known as Georgian Betania. It is an active men's monastery located 16 km from Tbilisi, in the Vere River Gorge.