Travel Network News: At the places of early Christianity

At the places of early Christianity

Travel Network News inform you about At the places of early Christianity

At the places of early Christianity

   

Tbilisi - Ninotsminda - Sighnaghi - Bodbe - Telavi - Nekresi - Grammy - David-Gareji - Tbilisi - Vardzia - Akhaltsikhe - Kutaisi - Zugdidi - Mtskheta - Tbilisi (9 days, 8 nights)

   

Day 1: Tbilisi

Arrival to Tbilisi. Meeting with the representatives of the agency. Hotel accommodation. Dinner. Overnight.

  

  

Day 2: Tbilisi

Breakfast. General sightseeing tour in Tbilisi. The capital of Georgia is unique. It is located on the several mountain hills, on which "creep" the old blocks. Tbilisi - is a beautiful river Kura with its picturesque rocky shores, that flows across the whole city. Tbilisi is one of the rare places in the world, where can peacefully exist in the Old Town orthodox church, catholic cathedra, synagogue and mosque. 

We will go up on the latest lift to the castle Narikala (IV c.), during it we will be able to see the whole city form the bird's eye, will visit in the Old Town Sioni Cathedral (VI-VII c.), Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary, the oldest surviving church. Visit of Metechi Church ( V c.), Synaxis of Saint Trinity of the temple complex of Tsminda Sameba - the main Cathedral of Georgian Orthodox Church. We will also visit Alexander Nevsky Church - Orthodox Church under the jurisdiction of the Georgian church in the capital of Georgia. Along with the church of St. Vladimir in the area of Vera is one of two churches in Tbilisi, where worship is fully is performed on the Church Slavonic language. Dinner. Overnight..

    

  

Day 3: Tbilisi - Ninotsminda - Sighnaghi - Bodbe - Alaverdi - Telavi

Breakfast. Drive to Sagaredjo, where is located Cathedral Ninotsminda, 575. Currently functioning nunnery. Excursion in the "town of everlasting love" Sighnaghi, that is placed at the top of the ridge, overlooking Alazani valley. Visit the monastery complex of St. George and the grave of St. Nino, that brought Christianity to Georgia in the Bodbe village. Upon request, bathing in the holy waters of the increate spring, that heals the sick and make miserable people happy. Lunch in Kvareli at Lake Elijah. Excursion in Telavi - main city and administrative center of Kakhetia, museum - fortress of king Erekle II (XVIII c.), that signed Treaty of Georgievsk with the Russian Empire. Then, visit of Alaverdi Cathedral (XI c.), the second highest building (more than 50 m). Hotel accommodation in Telavi. Dinner. Overnight.

   

 

Day 4: Telavi - Nekresi - Grammy - Tbilisi

Breakfast. Arrival to Tbilisi. Visit of Nekresi - the oldest temple in Georgia of the IV century.Then, excursion in the Gremi royal fortress (XVI c.). The complex is surrounded by the wall with towers and embrasures. The remains of the secret underground passage, that leads to the river, survived. Lunch. Excursion in David Gareji - the complex of Georgian cave monasteries of the VI century. The complex, carved into the rocks, consists about 20 monasteries and includes the territory of the three regions of Georgia - Gardabani, Sagaredji and Sighnaghi. Lavra monastery of St. David is considered to be the main monastery. It is located on the northern slope that separates Georgia and Azerbaijan. Boundary runs along the top of the mountain, which is called Udabno by Georgian historians - that is the title of one of the monasteries. This monastery is located on the Azerbaijan territory - on the southern slope. Besides these, on the southern slope there are more than 100 caves, which were used by monks as living cells. Most separated from the border is Bertubani monastery (dating from the XII century), which is located about two kilometers away. In many churches and refectories of the complex frescoes (VI-IX c. ) are preserved, including portrait of Queen Tamara. Dinner. Overnight in Tbilisi.

  

  

Day 5: Tbilisi - Vardzia - Akhaltsikhe

Breakfast. Arrival to recently reconstructed Akhaltsykhe fortress, the motherland of Charles Aznavur, the ancient center of Catholicism in Georgia. In the complex, together with Orthodox Church of St. Marina, are placed mosque, catholic church and monastery of Benedictine Sisters, synagogue and Armenian church. Lunch. Visit of Vardzia cave monastery complex (XII- XIII c.) - 19 stepped rock town. For 900 m along the left bank of Kura river, in the plumb wall of the mountain, around 600 buildings are cut out - churches, chapels, parrocks, pantries, baths, libraries. There preserved secret passages, remains of plumbing, and irrigation system. Vardzia- is the site of the era of Golden Age. More than thousands of monks lived there, and when being attacked, to 20 thousand of people could shelter there. Hotel accommodation in Akhaltsykhe. Dinner. Overnight.

  

    

  

Dat 6: Akhaltsikhe - Safarsky Monastery - Kutaisi

Breakfast. Excursion to the Safarsky monastery, which is located in the mountains near the Meskheti in the south-east. It was founded of St. Sawa in the XIII century. Monastery is acting, man's. Currently it is the abode for monks and 20 novices living in agriculture and donations from the public. Arrival to Kutaisi. Dinner. Overnight.

   

   

Day 7: Kutaisi - Zugdidi - Kutaisi

Breakfast. Departure to Zugdidi. The treasure of Zugdidi is graceful patrimonial palace of Dadiani princes, with great park. At the present time, it is a museum with uncommon historical collection, including the death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte. The oldest aristocratic family of Dadiani princes is known for its relations with Napoleon Bonaparte. In Vlakherna church, in Zugdidi, is kept one of the most precious Christian relics - Cincture of the Virgin Mary — Christian relic, that belonged to Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. Lunch. Excursion in the ancient city Kutaisi, that is more than 3 thousand years old. Visit of Gelati monastery and academy, established by the great Georgian tsar David IV the Builder, that is included to UNESCO World Heritage Site List. Overlook of the Bagrati Cathedral and "monastery of accomplishment of desires" Metsameta. Dinner. Overnight.

  

  

 

Day 8: Kutaisi - Mtskheta - Tbilisi

Breakfast. Drive to Mtskheta. Lunch. Excursion to the New Jerusalem, in the ancient capital of Georgia - Mtskheta - the town-museum, included to the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. Visit of the ancient temple - monastery Jvari (VI c.). On the top of the mountain where the temple is placed, opens a fantastic view on the place of junction of two rivers - Kura and Aragvi. There also opens a beautiful view on the ancient capital of Georgia - Mtskheta.Visit of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (1010-1029), at the bottom of which is buried one of the major Christian relics Lords chitinchiton, one of the most important sacred artifacts of the New Testament that after the crucifixion of Christ was brought to Mtskheta by Elioz - one of the witnesses of his death on the cross, and it is also the burial place of many of the Georgian kings. Here is also the part of life-giving pillar. Visit of Samtavro monastery, where year round grow, flower and fruit blackberry bush, near of which in the IV century lived and preached St. Nino- enlightener, the first preacher of Christianity in Georgia. The official adoption of Christianity in Georgia in 324 is associated with the name of St. Nino, with the assistance and participation of the King St. Miriam and Queen St. Nana. It was St. Nino who persuaded the king Miriam and queen Nana to adopt Christianity in Georgia. Woderworking icon of Iberian Mother of God, woderworking icon of St. Nino, grave of St. Tsar Merian and Tsarina Nani, hallows of St. Abibos Nekresky, St. Shio Mhvimskoho are inside. Lunch in the restaurant. Next, excursion to Shio-Mgvime medieval monastery - a monastic architectural complex in Georgia, near the town of Mtskheta. According to sources the monastery was founded by the receiver and the pupil of one of the 13 Assyrian Fathers - John Zedazeni, Shio. In the middle of the VI c. in the last years of his life, Father Shio as a hermit in a dark and deep cave (Mgvime) and after his death, according to his will, he was buried there. His tomb in Shio Mgvime (Cave of Shio) is considered a sacred place. In XI century, over the cave was built a temple, which was later referred to the Church of St. John the Baptist. Closing dinner with dances and songs. Overnight in the hotel in Tbilisi.

 

 

Day 9: Tbilisi

Breakfast. Free time. Buying souvenirs. Lunch. Transfer to the airport for your flight to back home.

  

Tour price per person in USD:
20 +1 pax	25 +1 pax	30 +1 pax	Surcharge for single occupancy
540	520	500	120

      

The price includes: 

• Accommodation in 3* hotels: 4 nights in Tbilisi, 1 night in Telavi, 2 nights in Kutaisi, 1 night in Akhaltsykhe; standard double rooms;
• Half board: 8 breakfasts and 8 dinners, including closing dinner with dances and songs;
• English or Hebrew speaking guide according to the program;
• Transportation according to the program.
  

The price does not include: 

• Entrance fees;
• Lunches;
• Services not listed above;
• Personal expenses.

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