Tavkvetula Cave Church (Region of Samtskhe-Javakheti)
Tavkvetula Cave Church (Georgian: თავკვეთულას ქვაბულის ეკლესია) – Cave Church (VIII-IX centuries) and a monastery in honor of the Beheading of John the Baptist. During the Turkish rule, the conquerors beheaded local residents and threw them off the cliffs. That is why this place was called – “Tavkvetula” (Beheading). The temple is carved into a steep cliff and is impossible to notice from the outside. To get to the temple, you have to cross the river, climb a steep slope to the foot of the temple, crawl through the only narrow passage, and climb a narrow vertical staircase. The place is very revered and hundreds of pilgrims and tourists constantly come here.
The Orthodox Church celebrates the day (September 11) of the beheading of John the Baptist. The holiday is especially celebrated in the Tavkvetula Church, where parishioners from different dioceses of Georgia gather every year. Every year, on September 11, the same miracle occurs. The Kura River, which must be crossed to get to the church, is very fast-flowing and deep, especially at this place. On the eve of the holiday, the river begins to subside and by the morning it is so shallow that pilgrims going to the service freely cross the river on foot. After the Divine Liturgy, the riverbed is again filled with a fast-flowing stream and by evening it becomes as always – deep and fast-flowing.
Mirashkhani Village (Georgian: სოფელი მირაშხანი), Aspindza Municipality (Georgian: ასპინძის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
