Shio-Mgvime Monastery

Shio-Mgvime was founded in the sixth century by Shio, one of the Assyrian fathers who established monasticism in Georgia, who is said to have lived in a cave here, and the monastery that grew around him became one of the largest in the country during the medieval period. It occupies a narrow limestone gorge west of Mtskheta, with the Church of Saint John the Baptist, the oldest building, standing above cells and chambers cut into the rock, and a domed church of the twelfth century beside it. Shio's own cave and grave are below the church. The road in follows the gorge through bare hills, which makes the arrival at the green cluster of buildings abrupt.

History

The community grew quickly into the largest in Georgia, with as many as 2,000 monks by the end of the 6th century, under the personal patronage of the Catholicos. David IV the Builder made it a royal domain and gave it its rule, the typicon, in 1123. It declined with the fall of the medieval Georgian kingdom and repeated invasions, revived when King George VIII (r. 1446-1465) granted it to the Zevdginidze-Amilakhvari family, who used it as their burial ground until the 1810s, and was ravaged by the troops of the Persian Shah Abbas I in 1614-1616. Rebuilt by Prince Givi Amilakhvari in 1678, it was devastated again during the Ottoman occupation of the 1720s, restored in 1733 and raided by Persian forces less than two years later. It was restored and its interior renovated in the 19th century, though it never regained its old importance; it was shut under Soviet rule and is an active monastery again today (Wikipedia, Shio-Mgvime Monastery).

What to look for

• Cells cut into the rock - the cave dwellings of the early community.
• The Church of Saint John the Baptist - the sixth-century core.
• Shio's cave and grave - the shrine below the church.
• The bare limestone gorge - the approach from Mtskheta.

When to go

April to October. Two hours from Mtskheta. The road is narrow and rough in places. Modest dress is expected and coverings are available at the entrance.

Things to know

The road in is narrow with passing difficulties and taxis charge accordingly. It is a working monastery with photography restrictions. Interiors are dark. There are no facilities on site.

Nearby

Mtskheta is east; Tbilisi lies beyond it.

Key facts