I have long dreamed of visiting there, and my main purpose was to explore the Samtavro Monastery in Mtskheta. An amazing man served there - Saint Gabriel Urgebadze (Gabriel of Samtavria, canonized by the Georgian Orthodox Church as a saint, is revered by all Orthodox churches). I learned about him from the film “I’m Waiting for You in Samtavro”: he made such a strong impression on me that at the first opportunity I got ready for the trip to visit the monk. I was even lucky enough to meet his nephew and visit the temple that the saint built in the courtyard of his house, as well as the museum at the Samtavro monastery, where the saint’s belongings are kept.
My trip began in the Krasnodar region, where I was visiting my relatives in Kurganinsk. I took a night train to Vladikavkaz, and from there I went to Tbilisi by minibus. And I didn’t regret the chosen vehicle at all, since the road through the mountains was so beautiful and emotional that it was literally breathtaking! Majestic mountains, stormy rivers, a pass over the Caucasus ridge, views of the legendary Kazbek, cliffs and abysses and mountain tunnels. I can say that the wonderful impressions began already on the way, even before my arrival at the destination.

I advise everyone to choose the land route for sure. Firstly, the trip is inexpensive, I even had to exchange lari for rubles on the way back, since I didn’t spend all money. And secondly, when traveling by plane, you won’t get these vivid, I would even say, dramatic and memorable impressions of steep passes and tunnels cut into the rocks, you won’t see mountains that go into the sky up so close - something like this is worth experiencing at least once. I would also advise you to learn a few phrases in Georgian, as the locals really like when you show interest and respect their language and culture. I checked into a hotel in the center of Tbilisi. But later I realized that it would be better and cheaper to stay in a cozy hostel in Mtskheta, renting a separate room with all amenities with possibility to observe beautiful views, but not in the noisy capital.
My destination, the city of Mtskheta is located 25 kilometers from Tbilisi; it is the first, ancient capital of Iveria. It is situated in a wide lowland on the banks of the Aragva and Kura rivers. Among local residents and tourists, Mtskheta is considered one of the most beautiful places in Georgia; there are many historical, cultural and Orthodox monuments. Most of the churches were built in the 4th–6th centuries, even before the Conversion of Rus'. High on the mountain, directly above the city, the ancient Jvari Cathedral, built in the 7th century, towers on. This particular temple is supposed to be mentioned in Lermontov’s poem “Mtsyri”; a picturesque serpentine road leads to it along the mountain. Svetitskhoveli Temple in Mtskheta is one of the most ancient in Georgia. Here, the tunic of Jesus Christ is kept hidden (secretly) - as it is the one of the greatest shrines of the Christian world. Everything in the cathedral breathes with antiquity; it has perfectly preserved frescoes from the 16th century, which look especially beautiful under natural light.

My trip was short, it took only four days, but even in such a short time I managed to visit almost all general shrines of Georgia - the Samtavro monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Sioni - the cathedral of the city of Tbilisi, where the famous cross of St. Nina is kept, the monastery of David of Gareji and the Russian temple Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky. I was pleasantly surprised by particular veneration of holy places by local residents: for example, when a bus passes by a temple or monastery, absolutely all passengers inside the bus christen - you won’t see this in Russia.
On my way back from Georgia I also passed through North Ossetia, Vladikavkaz, and I still had several hours of waiting the train, since I managed to cross the border very quickly. For a small amount of money, a local taxi driver showed me the foremost attractions of Vladikavkaz and Alagir, introduced me to the delicious national dish “fidzhyn” (Ossetian meat pie) in an inexpensive but very cozy local cafeteria. This is how the geography of my long-awaited trip to Iveria expanded out of the program! And along the way, I met good people in Georgia and North Ossetia. We continue to communicate, and now I am even waiting for one dear guest to visit me in Russia for the Christmas holidays. I got unforgettable impressions from the trip!