Ancient capital of Georgia to be blessed on Annunciation-Holy Saturday

Mtskheta, Georgia, April 2, 2018

Photo: georgiastartshere.com Photo: georgiastartshere.com
    

A solemn ceremony of the blessing of the ancient capital city of Mtskheta will be celebrated this year on the double feast of the Annunciation-Holy Saturday, reports News-Georgia.

The ceremonies will begin with the festive Divine Liturgy in the historic Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the city of Mtskheta, followed by a procession during which the streets of the city will be sprinkled with Holy Water.

“According to the testament of Catholicos-Patriarch Melchizedek I, the Annunciation was established as the day for blessing the holy capital of Mtskheta in the 11th century. This tradition was restored several years ago. This year, with the blessing of His Holiness, following the episcopal service in Svetitskoveli, the clergy will consecrate the holy capital of Mtskheta,” Archdeacon Demetre said during a service at the Holy Trinity-Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi.

Mtskheta was founded in the 5th century BC. According to tradition, it was founded by the legendary Mtskhetos, who is believed to be one of the descendants of Noah. The throne of the Georgian Patriarch was located in Mtskheta for a long time. In addition to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the city is also home to the holy Samtavro Monastery, where the relics of the beloved 20th century elder St. Gabriel (Urgebadze) lie in repose.

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4/2/2018

See also
The Samtavro Monastery of St. Nina The Samtavro Monastery of St. Nina The Samtavro Monastery of St. Nina The Samtavro Monastery of St. Nina
After St. Nina’s repose, the Equal-to-the-Apostles King Mirian, having returned from Bodbe, desired to build the Samtavro church: “The king and all the people went and built the upper church out of stone and finished it in the fourth year.” The participation “of all the people,” the desire of the king, and the four years of building are a sign that the church was quite large. Music and Ancient History in the Caucasus Music and Ancient History in the Caucasus
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Celestine Bohlen
Although the boundaries of the Tao-Klarjeti kingdom, as it is sometimes called, once part of a larger realm ruled by the Bagratid dynasty, had vanished from the map by the 11th century, its Georgian rulers left behind an astonishing collection of churches, monasteries and fortresses. Said to number 300, they are scattered across territory later disputed by, notably, the Byzantines, the Mongols, the Persians, the Seljuk Turks, the Ottomans and the Russians. $370,000 allocated to restore Georgian Katskhi Monastery $370,000 allocated to restore Georgian Katskhi Monastery $370,000 allocated to restore Georgian Katskhi Monastery $370,000 allocated to restore Georgian Katskhi Monastery
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Georgia has recently decided to allocate 1 million lari ($370,000) to a comprehensive restoration project at the Nativity of the Savior Monastery in the village of Katskhi, 125 miles northwest of Tbilisi. Georgia’s Tsilkani Mother of God complex given status of cultural monument of national significance Georgia’s Tsilkani Mother of God complex given status of cultural monument of national significance Georgia’s Tsilkani Mother of God complex given status of cultural monument of national significance Georgia’s Tsilkani Mother of God complex given status of cultural monument of national significance
The complex currently serves as the episcopal cathedral in the Mtskheta district village of Tsilkani, consisting of the church and protective wall. Ancient Georgian monuments of Mtskheta receive special UNESCO status Ancient Georgian monuments of Mtskheta receive special UNESCO status Ancient Georgian monuments of Mtskheta receive special UNESCO status Ancient Georgian monuments of Mtskheta receive special UNESCO status
The monuments of the ancient Georgian capital, Mtshketa, include the sixth century Holy Cross Monastery of Jvari, and the eleventh century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral where is kept the Robe of the Lord, and the Samtavro Monastery, where lay the relics of the modern elder St. Gabriel (Urgebadze). Mtskheta among the 20 most beautiful heritage sites of UNESCO Mtskheta among the 20 most beautiful heritage sites of UNESCO Mtskheta among the 20 most beautiful heritage sites of UNESCO Mtskheta among the 20 most beautiful heritage sites of UNESCO
The former capital of Georgia referred to as the spiritual heart of the country, has three picturesque, cliff top medieval churches.
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