Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral
Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Georgian: სიონის ღვთისმშობლის მიძინების საპატრიარქო ტაძარი). One of the oldest churches in Georgia, built in the 5th century and named after the biblical Mount Sioni. According to legend, Sioni was one of four churches built by King Vakhtang Gorgasali (Georgian: ვახტანგ გორგასალი) in Tbilisi in the second half of the 5th century. Like Metekhi (Georgian: მეტეხი), Sioni Cathedral was based on the plan of the church built in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the site of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The modern Sioni Cathedral stands on the site of a 5th-century church. The first church was almost completely destroyed during the Arab invasion and was rebuilt only almost four centuries later. The capital’s main cathedral church has been a victim of almost every enemy invasion. After each destruction, the Georgians tried to restore it as much as possible, which is why the church consists of several building layers.
Since its construction, Sioni Cathedral has become a symbol of Christianity and Georgian identity. They say that as long as Sioni stands, Tbilisi will exist. In the 17th century, Sioni Cathedral miraculously avoided being turned into a mosque by the Ottoman Turks who occupied Tbilisi. One interesting fact should be noted. Old cannons were melted down to make the bells of Sioni Cathedral. One of the most beautiful religious buildings is known for several shrines. The main sacred relic not only of Sioni Cathedral, but of the entire country is the cross of St. Nino (Georgian: წმინდა ნინოს ჯვარი) — the enlightener and baptizer of Georgia. Made from grapevine and entwined with the hair of a girl, the cross is enclosed in a silver frame and is kept on the left side of the central iconostasis. Other important relics of the temple are the head of the Apostle Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, which after the fall of Constantinople was transferred to Georgia to the Sioni Cathedral.
3, Sioni Street (Georgian: სიონის ქუჩა 3), Tbilisi Municipality (Georgian: თბილისის მუნიციპალიტეტი)