Description of the attraction
The Metekhi temple, a witness to the centuries-old history of the Georgian capital, is located on a small hill on the banks of the Kura River. Initially, this place was the palace of local kings, built by the founder of the city - Vakhtang Gorgasali. Near the palace in about the XII century. the temple of the Holy Mother of God was erected. All buildings were surrounded by powerful fortifications.
During the Mongol invasion in 1235, the palace and temple were destroyed. In 1278-1289 the monastery was restored. Throughout the XV century. it was destroyed again, but by the Persians. Each Georgian king considered it his duty to revive the temple, thanks to which this ancient building has survived to this day. The modern building of the Metekhi temple dates from the end of the XIII century. At the same time, the brick dome was installed much later, around the 18th century.
Near the temple in the XVII century. a defensive fortress was erected, which was later converted into a prison. The Metekhi temple itself was desecrated, after it was in the XIX century. was turned into the barracks of the Cossack regiment. During the improvement of the city in 1959, the Metekhi Castle was completely destroyed. In 1987, a major restoration of the temple was carried out. Since 1988, the Metekhi temple has again become a functioning temple of the Georgian Church.
On the eastern side of the monastery you can see a carved inscription that reads: "King Heraclius took this fortress from the enemy by force …". Under the arches of Metekhi, Queen Shushanika Ranskaya is buried - the first Georgian martyr, killed in the 5th century. a fire-worshiping husband. In the temple itself there is an icon of St. Shushanik.
In front of the entrance to the Metekhi temple there is a bronze equestrian statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali, which has become one of the symbols of Tbilisi.
