Sioni Cathedral

Sioni Cathedral, or simply Sioni, is one of Tbilisi's most significant historic churches, situated on the bank of the Mtkvari River in the Old Town. Prior to the construction of Tsminda Sameba Cathedral, it was considered the country's primary cathedral and for centuries served as Georgia's spiritual center. Clad in light Bolnisi tuff in the early 18th century, the church's exterior is distinguished by austerity and elegance, while its architecture bears traces of numerous restorations that reflect the city's turbulent history.

Inside the cathedral, a special atmosphere reigns, accentuated by the murals and iconostasis created in the mid-19th century by Prince Grigory Gagarin to replace the originals destroyed during the devastating Persian invasion of 1795. Later, in the second half of the 20th century, the interior decoration was supplemented by frescoes by Georgian artist Levan Tsutskiridze. The main relic of Sioni is the cross of Saint Nino, woven from grapevines and bound with her hair; it was with this relic that the Enlightener brought Christianity to Georgian soil. According to tradition, the cross is kept in a special reliquary to the left of the altar, attracting pilgrims and travelers from all over the world.

The territory around the cathedral includes two belfries: an ancient Georgian tower and a later one fashioned in Russian Classicist style. A walk through the churchyard allows one to perceive the continuity of epochs and savor tranquillity right in the core of buzzing Tbilisi. Sioni Cathedral endures as a living monument of faith and resilience, intimately tied to the destiny of the Georgian nation.