David Gareja

David-gareli - Dawit Garedscha - Udabno - Udabno Lavra

Useful Information

Location:	David Gareja, 80km southeast of Tiblisi.
Open:	No restrictions. [2010]
Fee:	free. [2010]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	bring torch
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Guided tours:
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History

6th cty	founded by David (St. David Garejeli).
10th cty	destroyed by the Seljuks.

Description

David Gareja is a cave monastery ensemble from the Middle Ages. It is famous for mural paintings and sculptures. It was founded in the 6th century by Saint David. He was one of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers or Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, a group of monastic missionaries who arrived from Mesopotamia to Georgia to strengthen Christianity in the country during the 6th century. He founded his monastery at the Gareja hills, so he is often named St. David Garejeli, and his monastery is simply called David Gareja.

David Gareja is also the name of the whole complex of 13 monasteries, which are located in this valley at the border to Azerbaijan.