Martvili Monastery (Region of Samegrelo)
Martvili Monastery (Georgian: მარტვილის მონასტერი) — The date of the foundation of the Martvili Monastery is considered to be the turn of the VI—VII centuries, when the first cross-shaped temple was built on this site. Martvili Monastery is also called Chkondidi Monastery (Chkon-didi in the Mengrel dialect means Big Oak). In general, tree worship was widespread in Western Georgia – and the Oak (Chkoni) carried the greatest symbolic load. Before Christianity, a large oak stood on the site of the monastery, under which pagan rituals were performed. During the Christianization of Western Georgia, that ritual oak was cut down on the orders of Andrew the First-Called. The pagans made sacrifices to their idols. The walls of the current temple include some remains of the idolatrous sanctuary that stood here earlier. In the VI—VII centuries, a church of martyrs (victims) was built on this site and was named Martvili.
The main temple of the monastery complex – the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary has reached us in a heavily rebuilt form. Initially, it was a cross-type building. Continuous invasions severely damaged it, and the temple was thoroughly rebuilt. External walls were added, a new dome was built, so from the outside, it no longer looks like a cross-type monument. Frescoes from the XIV-XVII centuries have been preserved in the temple. Its beauty is the Virgin Mary of Martvili, presented in the center of the sanctuary. To the north of the cathedral, on the rampart, there is a miniature cross-domed church, built of hewn stone. It was built in the X century and rebuilt in the era of late feudalism. The church has three floors. On the first floor there is an exit, which also serves as an altar, on the second floor there is a domed church.
Martvili City (Georgian: ქალაქი მარტვილი), Martvili Municipality (Georgian: მარტვილის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
