Pilgrimage Tour

Day 1: Arrive at Batumi

Arrive at Batumi International Airport, meet, and transfer to a hotel. Afterward, visit Batumi Botanical Gardens. In the evening enjoy the boulevard.

Day 2: Batumi – Akhaltsikhe

We start to follow the routes of the saints that came to Georgia for preaching Christianity. First, we visit the Roman-style Gonio fortress (1st century), here is the grave of the apostle Matthias that accompanied St. Andrew in Georgia during one of his visits. Afterward, we continue our way and arrive in the Meskheti region via Goderdzi pass (2000 m), on the way we enjoy the breathtaking views.

According to historical sources, St. Andrew made many miracles in this region and converted people to Christianity. In Akhaltiskhe we visit the Ethnographic Museum.

Day 3: Akhaltsikhe – Khertvisi – Vardzia – Vanis Kvabebi – Akhaltsikhe

In the morning we start exploring the Meskheti region, we travel towards the cave town Vardzia (12th century) en route visit Khertvisi fortress (10th century). Later visit Vardzi – one of the highlights of the trip. There used to be about 3000 caves and 50 000 people could live there. It has got a church hewn out in rock with amazing 12th-century frescos. Here we can see the fresco of the most beloved Georgian queen – Queen Tamar (12th century) later canonized by Georgian Synod as a saint.

Afterward, we continue to the caves of Vani – used as a nunnery in the 7th century.

Day 4: Akhaltsikhe – Uplistsikhe – Mtskheta

In the morning we drive to the village of Atskuri where St. Andrew demolished the pagan cults and established a Christian church here. We visit the Atskuri fortress (9th century), probably this is a place where the Christian church was founded by St. Andrew. Later on, his missionary work was continued by St. Nino (4th century) and 13 Syrian fathers (6th century). Today we also visit Uplistsikhe Cave Town (1st millennium BC) – the place where the Great Silk Road used to pass.

Afterward, we drive to visit the ancient capital and religious center of Georgia – Mtskheta (3000 years old). This town keeps a lot of memories from the time when Georgia officially got converted to Christianity by St. Nino. We visit Jvari church (meaning cross in Georgian. 6th century) where the maiden from Cappadocia erected the cross in the 4th century. Later we visit the holiest place of all Georgians – Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) where the Robe of Christ is buried. Both Jvari and Svetitskhoveli are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Day 5: Mtskheta – Bodbe – Telavi

In the morning visit Samtavro monastery (11th century) where under a blackberry bush St. Nino used to live for 6 years (the blackberry bush still flourishes there). Afterward, we drive to the Shio-Mghvime monastery founded in the 6th century by St. Shio, one of the Syrian fathers’ who arrived in Georgia in the 6th century and played a big role in the strengthening of Christianity. In the monastery, we have a chance to see a well where St. Shio spent the last few years of his life.

Afterward, we continue our way to the Kakheti region which is rich with monasteries and churches founded by Syrian fathers. Alongside you can visit the grave of St. Nino held here in a Bodbe monastery (4th century) and taste the water from the spring which is considered to be miraculous. Close to Bodbe we visit the fortified town of Sighnaghi (17th century) and enjoy the splendid views of the Great Caucasus Mountains.

Day 6: Kakheti region

We travel to Kakheti where 13 Syrian fathers built many monasteries and visit a couple of them – Alaverdi Cathedral (11th century), Ikalto monastery (6 century), and Nekresi Monastery (4th century). Most of these churches hold the graves of St. Fathers.

As Kakheti is wine growing region and is famous for its food and wine we visit a farmer’s house for lunch to enjoy the hospitality of the local people and sample some delicious home-made food. We will also visit a farmer’s house to see a unique wine cellar, get acquainted with the Georgian way of wine-making, and taste typical Georgian red and white wines.

Day 7: Telavi – David Gareja – Tbilisi

In the morning we drive to the David Gareja cave complex located in a stark, semi-desert landscape. This monastery was founded in the 6th century by one of the Syrian fathers David. Later on, it grew and consisted of 19 monasteries. It was one of the major spiritual centers which used to house even 6000 monks on special religious days.

Day 8: Tbilisi

In the morning we have the Tbilisi Sightseeing program. As the final spot of our tour tracing the saints in Georgia, we visit Mama Daviti Church situated on Mt. Mtatsminda (meaning Holly Mountain). The church is built on a place where David Garejeli (6th century) – one of the most famous Syrian Fathers used to live before he went to live in a desert.

Day 9: Departure

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