Perhaps, it is unlikely that in any city one can find so many ancient churches as in Tbilisi. One of them is the small Anchiskhati basilica (the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary). The building dates back to the 6th century AD.
Building style
The basilica was built in the style of ancient Palestinian architecture. Translated from Greek, the word “basilica” means “royal house”.
The building has a rectangular shape and is complemented by semicircular apses. The temple has three exits. The massive wooden doors are traditionally decorated with a Georgian cross, the base of which is a grapevine. It was with a cross of this shape that Saint Nina preached Christianity in Georgia.
On the western side of the building there is a carved medallion with a cross. This is the earliest part of the church. The upper superstructure was repeatedly rebuilt from the 17th to the 19th century.
By whose order was the temple erected?
Historians suggest that the temple was erected by the king of the Iberian Kingdom Dachi Ujarmeli (522-534), the successor of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, who made Tbilisi the capital of Georgia.
Where did the second name come from?
The basilica owes its original name to the icon of Christ the Savior. In the 17th century, due to the invasion of the Ottoman Empire, it was moved from the Anchi Cathedral, located in Tao-Klarjeti, to the Church of the Virgin Mary. Thus, the Georgian clergy tried to save their relic from destruction by enemies.
It is interesting that the shrine was initially hidden in the family of the Georgian prince Iotam Amilakhvari (an old family in Georgia) in the village of Chala.
The Legend of the Icon
According to legend, King Avgar fell seriously ill in the Syrian city of Edessa. He decided to seek help from Jesus and wrote him a petition for healing. In exchange, the ruler offered him his city as a refuge from the Jews. The letter was sent with the famous ancient artist Ananias, who was also commissioned to convey the image of Christ through a painting.
The messenger reached Jerusalem. He saw Jesus surrounded by a crowd. It was impossible to approach him. Intending to depict the Savior on the canvas, Ananias stood on one of the stones, which was able to raise him slightly above the ground. From this place, he tried to carefully look at the face of Christ.
Despite all the efforts of the painter, he was unable to convey the spirituality of Jesus’ face on the canvas. Noticing the futile efforts of the artist, the Savior ordered the Apostle Thomas to bring to him the man who was trying to draw him. Jesus called the artist by name and asked about the letter that was sent by King Avgar.
Ananias, amazed by Christ’s foresight, held out the bundle in amazement. Jesus wrote a reply to the ruler’s letter, then asked for water to be brought to him and washed his face in it. On the cloth with which Christ dried himself, his image appeared. Since the Savior’s beard was wet, it was reflected on the icon in the form of a wedge made of one strand. For this reason, the icon is often called “Savior Wet Beard”.
The artist Ananias went to his hometown accompanied by the Apostle Thaddeus.
For 6 years, King Avgar, suffering from leprosy, could not get out of bed, but after touching the divine face, he received the long-awaited healing. Shocked by the miraculous power of the icon, he ordered it to be placed in one of the niches above the main gate leading to Edessa. Thus, the pagan religion was overthrown. The ruler ordered everyone to bow before the new shrine.
A little later, the niche with the image of Christ was covered with clay and brick slabs so that the pagans could not desecrate it.
In the middle of the 6th century, the Persian king Khosrow conquered Edessa. Bishop Eulalius received a sign from above. The Mother of God asked to remove the icon from the niche. The priest gave the order to destroy the secret place. Imagine the surprise of the people when, opening the wall, they saw a burning candle and an image of Christ on a clay tablet. After praying before the shrine, strife began in the enemy camp, and the Iranian army soon retreated.
In the first half of the 7th century, the city of Edessa finally came into the possession of the Arab invaders. Worship of the shrine was not allowed. The icon was transported to Byzantium, and at the beginning of the 13th century, the capital of the state, Constantinople, was besieged by the Crusaders.
In order to preserve the image, it was transported to Georgia, to the Principality of Tao-Klarjeti. The relic was placed in the Anchi Cathedral, and later in the Church of the Virgin Mary. This is how the new name of the church, Anchiskhati, arose. The word “khati” in Georgian means “icon”.
The image was enclosed in a frame made of silver with gold inclusions. The author of the works was the famous medieval master Beka Opizari. The restoration was carried out by order of Queen Tamara.
Later in the 17th century, the image was enclosed in a frame, the inserts of which were covered with engravings in the national Georgian style.
The image was painted with hot wax paints.
It is currently kept in the National Museum of Georgia.
Changing the appearance of the Anchiskhati Basilica
The appearance of the church underwent radical changes during the Persian and Iranian invasions. The last reconstruction work was carried out in the 17th century. Each intervention in the architectural style contributed to the change of the building. Over time, vaults appeared, the floor level was raised, and the walls themselves were rebuilt.
The restoration work carried out in the 17th century was led by the Catholicos of Kartli Domentius. By the end of the 19th century, a vault was added to the temple, and a bell tower and a dome were added to the main building. As for the frescoes, their origin also dates back to the 19th century.
The state of the church in the Soviet era
In the immemorial Soviet times, the church housed a workshop of handicraftsmen, and later an art studio. From 1958 to 1964, the temple was restored. Initially, the building was erected from yellow tuff, but during the restoration carried out in the Soviet era, ordinary red brick was used.
The resumption of worship was carried out with the blessing of the Catholicos of Georgia Ilia II in the 80s of the last century. The church again acquired its primary significance.
The Church Today
The value of the temple is that it is a monument of early Christianity.
Currently, church services are held there. Tourists can hear the holy chants of Georgia, which are performed by one of the best choirs, and also see ancient icons that have survived to this day. All the images were painted in the 19th century. The exception is the altarpiece, created in the 17th century by order of the Catholicos of All Georgia Nikoloz VI.
The brick building itself, as already mentioned, has three exits, but today only one, located on the west, is functioning.
The church hosts not only church services, but also various religious rites.
The Anchiskhati Temple is the embodiment of the foundations of the Christian religion. Ancient frescoes reveal to visitors the origins of the universe.
An important place in the temple is the sanctuary, which contains cult icons.
Reviews from tourists
Reviews of tourists who visited this historical place indicate that it amazes with its unique color and special aura. The small church is capable of leaving an indelible impression in the hearts of parishioners. A certain grandeur and peace emanate from its walls.
How to get to the basilica?
The church is located in Tbilisi at the address: Shavteli Street 9.
Open from 9:00 to 19:00.
Free admission.
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