Lower Bethlehem Church (Kvemo Betlemi)

Kvemo Betlemi Monastery, or Lower Bethlehem Church, is located on the slope of the Sololaki Ridge in the historic district of Kldisubani. The church acquired its modern appearance following reconstructions in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its brick facade, massive dome, and high retaining walls are literally built into the steep mountain slope. Today an active convent of the Georgian Orthodox Church functions here, while the church itself remains one of the important sanctuaries of old Tbilisi.

The history of the monastery began in the 18th century, when Armenian settlers from Persia founded a convent here and built the Church of Saint Stephen. During the sacking of Tbilisi by the forces of Agha Mohammad Khan in 1795, the monastery was destroyed, but later rebuilt. In the Soviet era, the church was closed and used for utilitarian storage, and in 1988 it was returned to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Today, visitors can see an active church inside with icons, candles, and traditional monastic adornments.

Near the monastery runs the famous Bethlehem Stairs, one of the best-known pedestrian paths in Old Tbilisi. The stone staircase of 120 steps was built in the mid-19th century and still connects the lower city quarters with the monasteries on the slope of Sololaki. Due to its elevated position, beautiful views of the old quarters of Tbilisi open from the monastery grounds, while the narrow streets of Kldisubani around the church preserve the historic city's ambiance.