Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi: inside and how to visit

Tsminda Sameba (Holy Trinity) is Georgia’s main cathedral and one of the most prominent buildings in Tbilisi: a vast church with a golden dome rising on a hill above the Old Town, visible from almost anywhere in the centre. It is a modern cathedral that has quickly become one of the symbols of the capital.

Why the cathedral is famous

Tsminda Sameba was built in 1995-2004 on the Elia hill in the Avlabari district, on the left bank of the Kura, and consecrated on 23 November 2004 under Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. It is the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the seat of its head.

Golden dome of the Sameba Cathedral with a cross against the sky — The cathedral's gilded dome with its cross - Sameba's main landmark. Photo: Mostafameraji / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The scale of the church is striking. Its height is around 86 metres (more precisely, 86.1 m to the top of the cross), which makes Sameba one of the tallest Orthodox cathedrals in the world. The dome is crowned by a gilded cross 7.5 metres high. The project was designed by the architect Archil Mindiashvili. The cathedral has nine chapels, five of them underground, and the building is around 70 metres long and 65 metres wide.

What to see

The main impression is the sheer scale: the vast, light-filled space beneath the dome inside, and the panorama that opens up from the cathedral over Old Tbilisi and the river. Sameba stands at the centre of a large complex with gardens, staircases and smaller churches that is pleasant to wander around. The cathedral looks especially striking at sunset and in the evening, when it is floodlit.

Light-filled interior of Sameba Cathedral beneath the main dome with columns — The space beneath the dome, with the patriarchal throne and columns. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Main hall of the Sameba Cathedral with icons and a throne — The cathedral's main hall, with icons along the walls. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

What to keep in mind when visiting

This is a working church, and there are dress requirements for a visit: women should cover their head and shoulders and wear a skirt, men should wear long trousers; wraps and headscarves are usually available at the entrance. Keep quiet inside, especially during services, and bear in mind that it gets very crowded on major church holidays.

Icons, a crucifix and candlesticks inside Sameba Cathedral — Icons, a crucifix and candlesticks in one of the cathedral's chapels. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Nearby

Bell tower and stone crosses on the grounds of the Sameba complex — The bell tower and carved stone crosses in the courtyard of the Sameba complex. Photo: Giorgio Anselmi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Other Tbilisi sights are close by: across the river lie the Narikala fortress, the Abanotubani sulphur baths and the Bridge of Peace. For more on the capital, see the Tbilisi guide; more places are in the things to see section.

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