Shavnabada Monastery in Kvemo Kartli: St. George's Sanctuary

In Kvemo Kartli, Georgia's southeastern region, lies a monument to 20th-century Georgian religious architecture: the Shavnabada Monastery. The entire region is a rugged landscape with dense forests, valleys, and deep gorges, and some of Georgia's most beautiful sites can be found here.

The monastery was built in 1992 on the site of the medieval Church of St. George, with the personal blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Ilia II. The monastery is constructed of brick and stone, and its interior is richly decorated with national ornaments and motifs. If you're interested in traditions and applied arts, you'll find plenty to see in Georgia.

Legend

Georgia's landmarks are often shrouded in legend and mystery. The Shavnabada Monastery is no exception.

The events described in the legend of the Shavnabada Monastery took place in 1795, during the armed invasion of Khan Agha Muhammad. The Persian Khan and his army had already conquered Tbilisi and began plundering the city without mercy. They established their camp on one of the banks of the Mtkvari River at the foot of a majestic mountain, not far from Soganlugi. Here, the Persians returned each night with their plunder and riotously celebrated their victory. However, their reckless plundering of cities and slaughter of locals was short-lived. After sunset, a lone horseman in a dark cloak bearing the inscription "Shavi Nabadi" would attack the invaders' camp. This faceless warrior would wreak havoc throughout the camp, killing the bandits and terrorizing the entire army. The Persians tried to capture and kill him, but each attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the invaders with only one option: to leave the territory.

The villagers were overjoyed at the invaders' departure. They realized that the mysterious horseman was Saint George, and they named the nearby peak Shavi Nabadi in his honor, as it, like the horseman, protected them from the elements.

Aga Muhammad decided to leave for a while and return with renewed strength to recapture this unruly territory. A year later, the khan's troops again advanced into Georgian territory. They set up camp to plan their attack. On the eve of the defeat, the army's leader, Agha Muhammad, was killed, forcing the enemy to retreat again.

The villagers believed that Saint George had saved them from certain death, and in gratitude, they built a temple on the slope of Mount Shavi Nabadi.

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