დავით გარეჯის ლავრა

David Gareja - David-gareli - Dawit Garedscha - Udabno - Udabno Lavra

Useful Information

Location:	David Gareja, 80 km southeast of Tiblisi. (41.447177, 45.376319)
Open:	No restrictions. [2010]
Fee:	free. [2010]
Classification:	Cave House Cave Church
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided and guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:
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History

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

Description

დავით გარეჯის ლავრა (David Gareja Lavra) 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.