Georgian Cathedral

Svetistskhoveli

Hand of arsakidze

A legend surrounds a relief sculpture on the external northern wall. This shows a right arm and hand holding an L-square - symbol of the stonemason

Facades

The church facades are richly decorated. The curved blind arcading throughout is unaltered from the 11th century.

The arches genuinely ascend or descend according to height of the corresponding part of the facade, creating an impression of constant movement

Basilica

The base of the three-storey basilica, supposed to have been built by Vakhtang Gorgasali after St.Nino’s original church, was found by archaeologists during the restoration of 1970-71.

Its remnants can be seen in the western and southeastern parts, as well as under the pillars below the floor.

The remnants of an even older wooden church were found inside in the southern arm of the cross.

Damages

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, originally built in the 4th century, has been damaged several times during history, notably by the invasions of Arabs, Persians and Timur, and latterly during Russian subjugation and the Soviet period.

The building has also been damaged by earthquakes.