Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Anchiskhati)

Anchiskhati Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is the oldest of the surviving buildings in Tbilisi, erected in the 6th century by King Dachi of Ujarma. The temple was built in the form of a three-nave basilica from large blocks of yellow tuff. Despite numerous reconstructions, the lower parts of the walls and the overall architectural form have preserved authentic early medieval masonry.

The name "Anchiskhati" (translating as "Anchi Icon") became attached to the church in the second half of the 17th century. In 1664, the renowned Icon of the Savior Not Made by Human Hands was brought here from Anchi Monastery to save it from the Ottoman invasion. The ancient painted icon is encased in a magnificent chased silver revetment created in the 12th century by outstanding Georgian goldsmith Beka Opizari. In 2026, the original icon is kept in the Gold Fund of the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts, while a revered copy rests in the church.

The interior space is distinguished by strict asceticism: fragments of 17th-19th century paintings and massive stone columns have been preserved in it. The church is the main center for preserving ancient Georgian church polyphony. The Anchiskhati choir performs chants according to authentic canons that have remained virtually unchanged for one and a half thousand years.

The ensemble is complemented by a two-tiered brick bell tower, built in 1675 under Catholicos Domenti III. The church remains active and in 2026 is the only site in Tbilisi that allows visitors to see the city's pre-Arab architectural style. You can view its facades and bell tower from the side of Shavteli Street.