Anchiskhati Basilica (City of Tbilisi)
Basilica of Anchiskhati (Georgian: ანჩისხატის ეკლესია) – The appearance of the ancient Anchiskhati Temple and its existence as a whole is a peculiar example and proof of the struggle for self-preservation of the Temple itself, the Georgian people and the capital of Georgia. Historical sources confirm that it was built at the end of the 5th century, during the reign of Vakhtang Gorgasali (Georgian: ვახტანგ გორგასალი) and his son, Dachi Ujarmeli (Georgian: დაჩი უჯარმელი) and is considered to be the same age as the city of Tbilisi. The beautiful rectangular building of the church was built under the influence of ancient Palestinian architecture For fifteen centuries, the temple has witnessed all the important events of the capital of Georgia. The temple has been repeatedly damaged by enemy invasions or earthquakes.
Originally the church was called the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The church received its present name in the XVII century, when an icon was transferred here from the Cathedral of Ancha (Georgian: ანჩა). The Ancha Icon of the Savior (Georgian: მაცხოვრის ხელთუქმნელი ხატი) – one of the greatest shrines of Georgia. According to historical sources, there was no tradition of building a temple in the name of an icon. Christianity did not know such a tradition. Due to its special importance, the first temple built in the name of an icon was in Ancha. Thus, according to the information we have, the Ancha icon gave rise to this tradition. As a cathedral, it represented the residence of the Patriarch of Georgia in Tbilisi. The ensemble of the Patriarchal Cathedral consists of several buildings: the main church, the bell tower and the remains of the patriarchal palace.
1,Ioane Shavteli Street (1, იოანე შავთთელის ქუჩა), Municipality of Tbilisi (თბილისი)
