Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

스베티츠호벨리 대성당

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is an Orthodox Christian cathedral in the historic town of Mtskheta, northwest of Tbilisi, Georgia. The present building was finished between 1010 and 1029 by the medieval architect Arsukisdze, though a church has stood on the site since the 4th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and today the second-largest church building in Georgia, after Holy Trinity Cathedral.

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At a glance

Country: Georgia
Location: Mtskheta, Georgia
Built: 1029
Height: 54 m
Type: Religious building

Quick answers

Where is Svetitskhoveli Cathedral?

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is in Mtskheta, Georgia.

When was Svetitskhoveli Cathedral built?

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was built in 1029.

How tall is Svetitskhoveli Cathedral?

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is about 54 m tall.

Georgia’s great medieval cathedral, with a tall drum and conical roof inside a fortified enclosure.

It is famous as one of the most honoured churches in Georgia and one of the four great cathedrals of the Georgian Orthodox world. Kings were buried here for centuries. Tradition says it holds the robe of Christ, and its tall drum and conical roof rise inside a fortified wall.

The legend of the life-giving pillar

Georgian tradition says a Jew from Mtskheta named Elias bought Jesus's robe at Golgotha and brought it home. His sister Sidonia died on touching it and was buried holding it. A great cedar grew from her grave, and Saint Nino had seven columns cut from it for the church. The seventh rose into the air by itself and came down only after Nino prayed all night. In Georgian, 'sveti' means pillar and 'tskhoveli' means life-giving, which gives the cathedral its name.

History and survival

The first church was built in the 4th century under King Mirian III. The present cross-in-square building was completed in the 11th century, and its outer arcades are a well-preserved example of the decoration of that time. The cathedral is considered an endangered cultural landmark because it has survived many hardships. Many of its priceless frescoes were lost when Russian imperial authorities whitewashed them.

Fun facts

Its name means 'life-giving pillar'.
It was the biggest church in Georgia for almost 1,000 years, until Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi was built in 2004.
Kings were buried inside it over the centuries.