Jvari Monastery (Mtskheta): what to see and how to get there

Jvari Monastery is a 6th-century Georgian Orthodox monastery, built around 590-605 on a mountaintop near Mtskheta, right above the confluence of the Mtkvari (Kura) and Aragvi rivers. It is a rare example of an early-medieval Georgian church that has come down to us almost unchanged. Since 1994 Jvari has been part of the UNESCO “Historical Monuments of Mtskheta” site.

Why the monastery is famous

Jvari Monastery on a mountaintop near Mtskheta — Jvari church on a mountaintop above Mtskheta. Photo: Alexey Komarov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The main church of Jvari was built around 590-605 by the ruler of Kartli, the eristavi Stepanoz I. By tradition the place itself is linked to St Nino, the enlightener of Georgia: it is believed that she raised a wooden cross here on the site of a former pagan sanctuary. Hence the name of the monastery: “Jvari” means “cross” in Georgian.

For Georgian architecture, Jvari is not just a monument but a model. Its plan gave rise to a whole “Jvari type” of cross-dome church, which went on to influence ecclesiastical building both in Georgia itself and in neighbouring Armenia. That is exactly why Jvari, together with the other monuments of Mtskheta, was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stone Jvari church of the 6th century, general view — The 6th-century cross-dome church - a model of the "Jvari type". Photo: Kakhi Kuloshvili / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

How to get there

The monastery stands on a hill facing Mtskheta, about 20 km north-west of Tbilisi. A separate mountain road leads up to it, so the easiest way to make the climb is by car or taxi. From the top there is a view over Georgia’s old capital and the meeting point of the two rivers.

View from Jvari hill over Mtskheta and the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi — View from the top over Mtskheta and the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi. Photo: Alexkom000 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Jvari Monastery against the sky — The ancient walls of the monastery above the valley. Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Nearby

Jvari makes sense to see together with Svetitskhoveli - both monuments are in Mtskheta and belong to the same UNESCO site. Both are easy to fit into the Tbilisi → Kazbegi 2-day route. For more places across the country, see the things to see section.