Bodbe Monastery (Region of Kakheti)
Bodbe Monastery (Georgian: ბოდბის დედათა მონასტერი) – The monastery occupies a special place in the spiritual life of Georgia. The reason for this, of course, is that St. Nino (Georgian: წმინდა ნინო) rests here, the enlightener of Georgia. Bodbe (Bodbisi) was glorified by the Lord during St. Nino’s lifetime as the place of his future repose. St. Nino was so respected that the Mongols, who razed the entire country to the ground, left Nino’s burial place untouched. Nino’s grave became a living source of grace and healing for the Georgian people. The Bodbe Monastery was not only a spiritual, but also a cultural and educational center. A spiritual school operated here, where in addition to theological subjects were taught secular sciences. The monastery had one of the richest libraries in Georgia.
The Bodby Monastery has never lacked attention and care from both the high society and ordinary people. The care of the famous hagiographer and iconographer Mikhail Sabinin (Georgian: მიხეილ საბინინი) deserves special mention. He replaced the old stone of St. Nino’s tomb with marble loukoum. The monastery is home to one of Georgia’s most revered icons, the myrrh-streaming, miraculous Iveron Icon of the Mother of God (Georgian: ივერიის ღვთისმშობლის ხატი). It was preserved in the monastery church after it was closed and turned into a hospital, where it was used as an operating table. About 3 km from the monastery is the spring of St. Nino (Georgian: წმინდა ნინოს წყარო). According to legend, it arose through the prayer of St. Nino. Many sick people were cured after bathing in this water. A small church named after Saint Nino’s parents, Zabulon and Sosana, was built near the spring.
Bodbe village (Georgian: სოფელი ბოდბე), Signagi Municipality (Georgian: სიღნაღის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
