The short answer: if you only see four churches in Tbilisi, make them these. Anchiskhati is the oldest surviving church in the city, from the 6th century. Sioni holds the grapevine cross that tradition links to St Nino. Metekhi stands on a cliff above the Mtkvari with the statue of the city's founder beside it. And Sameba, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, is the vast modern seat of the Georgian Orthodox Church, finished in 2004. Three are within a short walk of each other in the Old Town; Sameba is up the hill in Avlabari.
Anchiskhati Basilica: the oldest
This small, plain basilica on Shavteli Street was built in the 6th century under King Dachi of Iberia, which makes it the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi[1]. It was first dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In 1675 a treasured icon of the Saviour, made by the 12th-century goldsmith Beka Opizari, was brought here from the Ancha monastery to keep it safe from Ottoman raids, and the church took its name from it: Anchiskhati, "icon of Ancha"[1]. The brick bell tower beside it dates from the same year[1].
Inside it is dark and low, with frescoes mostly from the 17th and 19th centuries[1]. The Anchiskhati choir, one of the leading groups for Georgian polyphonic chant, is based here[1], so a Sunday morning service can be memorable; stand quietly at the back. For background on the singing, read our guide to Georgian polyphony.
Sioni Cathedral: St Nino's cross
Sioni sits on Sioni Street near the river, a few minutes' walk from Anchiskhati. A church was first built here in the 6th–7th centuries, and David the Builder rebuilt it in 1112; it was damaged by invaders many times, and today's building is essentially the 13th-century church with later repairs[2]. It was the city's main cathedral and the seat of the patriarch until Sameba was consecrated in 2004[2].
The reason people queue here is the grapevine cross, which, by tradition, St Nino made from vine branches bound with her own hair when she brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century[2]. It is kept in a reliquary near the altar. The interior paintings are from the 1850s, by the Russian artist Grigory Gagarin[2]. For Nino's story, see St Nino and how Georgia became Christian.
Metekhi: the church on the cliff
Metekhi's church stands on a rock above the Mtkvari, opposite the Old Town, and is on almost every photo of Tbilisi. Tradition says King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the city's founder, built a church and fortress here in the 5th century; the present church was built by King Demetre II around 1278–1284[3]. Local tradition also holds that the 5th-century martyr St Shushanik is buried here[3].
Its later history is a Tbilisi story in miniature. Under Russian rule it became a barracks, then a prison until 1938; it narrowly escaped demolition under Stalin, later served as a theatre, and was returned to the church only in 1988[3]. The bronze equestrian statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali beside it dates from 1961[3]. Come for the view across to the sulphur-bath domes and Narikala as much as for the interior.
Sameba: the Holy Trinity Cathedral
Sameba stands on Elia Hill in the Avlabari district, and you can see its gilded cross from much of the city. The foundation stone was laid on 23 November 1995 and it was consecrated on 23 November 2004[4]. It is about 86 m tall to the top of the dome, one of the tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, and one of the largest religious buildings anywhere by area[4]. The project marked 2,000 years since the birth of Christ and 1,500 years of the Georgian church's independence[4].
Sameba is not old, and some find it overwhelming rather than beautiful, but it is the church Georgians themselves use for the big occasions: the main services at Christmas and Easter are held here. The complex includes several chapels (some underground), a bell tower, a monastery and the patriarch's residence[4]. Walk round the gardens as well as inside.
A simple route
- Start at Metekhi for the view over the river.
- Cross the bridge to the Old Town and the bath district, then up to Sioni.
- Walk a few minutes north to Anchiskhati.
- Finish with a taxi or a walk uphill to Sameba, ideally late in the afternoon.
For a full walking loop with Narikala, the waterfall and the Gabriadze clock tower, see our Tbilisi Old Town walking route.
Etiquette in Tbilisi churches
- Cover shoulders and knees. Women usually cover their hair and wear a skirt; most churches lend wraps and scarves at the door, but carry a light scarf. Men remove hats.
- These are working churches. Stay at the back during services, keep your voice down and don't walk between worshippers and the icons.
- Photography rules vary. Never photograph a service or people praying, and use no flash on frescoes.
- Weekend mornings and feast days are the busiest times, particularly at Sameba and Sioni.
More detail in our guide to visiting Georgian churches.
Who this suits
Anyone with half a day in Tbilisi can see all four. If you care most about history, give your time to Anchiskhati and Sioni; if you want architecture and views, Metekhi and Sameba. Travellers with limited mobility should note that Metekhi and Sameba are on hills with steps, and the Old Town lanes are steep and cobbled.
Seeing Tbilisi's churches with us
Our private Tbilisi city tour is a walk of about five hours that visits Metekhi, Sioni and Anchiskhati, with the cable car to Narikala in between; we can add Sameba at the end on request. The Mtskheta, Jvari and Château Mukhrani half day adds Georgia's two most important churches outside the city, and the Classic Georgia 8-day private tour starts with the same Old Town walk. All are private, with an English-speaking guide; see each tour page for the current price, or build your own route. Nothing to pay now.
Sources
- Wikipedia, "Anchiskhati Basilica": en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Sioni Cathedral": en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Metekhi": en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi": en.wikipedia.org
Last checked: September 2026. Service times and photography rules are set by each church.
