Metekhi Church in Tbilisi is one of the most iconic historical monuments preserved in the Georgian capital.
Perched on the banks of the Kura River, this church is part of an ancient fortified complex that once included a castle and a monastery.
Throughout its long history, it has also been the royal residence of Georgian monarchs.
The first references to the church of Metekhi date back to the twelfth century.
In the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, the Metekhi complex suffered severe damage at the hands of Mongol and Persian forces.
From 1819 the complex was transformed into a prison but during the Soviet era the prison facilities were dismantled and from 1937, after a complete restoration, it was returned to the Georgian Orthodox church and since then it has been a place of worship.
The interior is decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Georgian Orthodox Church and houses the tomb of St. Susanna the Martyr.
Situated on a stone platform near the church stands a regal statue, a tribute to the city’s founder, King Vakhtang I Gorgasali. King Vakhtang Gorgasali ruled Iberia, now known as eastern Georgia, from about 439 to 522.
