Khirsa Monastery (Region of Kakheti)

Khirsa Monastery (Georgian: ხირსის მონასტერი) – From the moment of its foundation (Vl century), the monastery became one of the enlightening spiritual centers of the country, whose periods of prosperity were followed by times of decline and desolation. The foundation of the Khirsa Monastery is associated with the name of St. Stephane Khirseli (Georgian: სტეფანე ხირსელი). Father Stephane came to Georgia in the middle of the 6th century with the Assyrian fathers to spread and strengthen Christianity. Father Stephane chose a small forested slope of a mountain range as his dwelling place Tsiv-Gombori (Georgian: ცივ-გომბორის ქედი), he settled there and built a small church in the name of his heavenly patron saint, St. Stephane the First Martyr. At the turn of the IX-X centuries, the basilica, built by Stephen Hirseli in the VI century, was transformed into a domed church.

The monastery of Khirsa was known as the abode of missionaries who worked tirelessly to spread Christianity in Dagestan, Ossetia, Ingushetia…. As an advanced pillar of Orthodoxy, it was often raided by enemies. The monastery was repeatedly rebuilt. Kind-hearted rulers of Georgia took care of its restoration and construction, thanks to which this gray temple, which for fourteen years enlightened the surrounding Orthodox population of the centuries has survived to us. In the monastery was kept the greatest Christian relic – the finger of St. Stephane the First Martyr, which was probably brought by St. Stephane khirseli himself. Today, the finger of St. Stephane the First Martyr is kept in the Bodbe Monastery. Мmonastery Once again continues to serve the country and the Orthodox faith.Thousands of pilgrims travel to worship the imperishable relics of St. Stephane khirseli.

Tibaanm village (Georgian: სოფელი ტიბაანი), Municipality of Signaghi (Georgian: სიღნაღის მუნიციპალიტეტი)