Ikalto Monastery (Region of kakheti)
Ikalto Monastery (Georg. იყალთოს მონასტერი). Late in the 6th century Saint Zenon, one of the “Syrian Fathers”, founded the Monastery 7-8 km west of the town Telavi. The Monastery was famous as one of the most significant cultural-scholastic centers of Kakheti as well as of the whole of Georgia because of the Spiritual Academy in which outstanding Georgian philosopher Arsen Ikaltoeli used to live and work.
Archaeological excavations revealed numerous workshops, wine-cellars, a smithy, store-rooms and other household rooms grouped around the Academy building. The Academy of Ikalto trained its students in theology, rhetoric, astronomy, philosophy, geography, geometry,chanting, etc. Besides the theoretical courses, the students were skilled in pottery making, metal work, viticulture and wine making, pharmacology, etc.
Ancient Academy of Ikalto is also famous for the fact that Shota Rustaveli, the outstanding Georgian poet of the 12th century, used to study there.