Georgian Adventures. David - Garedji Monastery, One of the most Blessed Places. Part III.

I have just come back from one of the best trips in my life, from Georgia, and I would like to share my impressions about this wonderful country with you.

Our route was the following:

Moscow - night in the car - night at Pyatigorsk
Tbilisi - 4 nights (including visit of David Garedj Monastery - 60 km from Tbilisi)
Kutaisi - 1 night (on the way visit of Jvari monastery, Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe (monastery in the rock), Gory (city where Stalin was born)
Svanetia - mountains area - 2 nights (Mestia and Ushguli)
Kobuleti - 5 nights (Batumi, Grigloleti, Gonio)
Borjomi - 2 nights (monasteries in rocks - Vardzia, Vanis - Kvabebi; castle Rabbat, Safara monastery)
Borjomi - Moscow (Night at Pyatigorsk and night at Kamensk - Shakhtinski)

If you want to read first 2 part, please check

GEORGIAN ADVENTURES! GAMARDJOBA, Genacvale!))) Georgia Impresses! PART I

Georgian Adventures. Part II. I Love You, Tbilisi. 1st Day

Today I would like to tell you about one the most blessed place I have ever visited, David - Garedji Monastery. And from the photo you can see that it is a really blessed place.

David is one of the most famous Saints in Georgia along with the Saint George and Saint Nina.

He was born in Syria but came together with Ioann's followers to Georgia. First they settled next to Mtskheta but in 3 years David was sent to Tbilisi and lived at the mountain Mta-Tsminda (Saint Mountain.) I have been there and you can get it by funicular.

He brought Christian faith to the citizens of Tbilisi and they were people who didn't like it. Onсe they paid to a fallen woman who should blame him that she was pregnant from David. David came to her, touched the belly and asked if he was a father. There was an answer "no" from her belly and the woman gave birth to a stone right in front of everybody. For the memory of that event David asked the God to make a spring at that mountain. And nowadays women from all over the world come there for help as that water helps in children birth.

After that David moved to the area Garedji and made monk's cell there in the rock. Later other monks joined him there. And the famous David - Garedji Monastery was established.

This monastery is situated about 70 km from Tbilisi (you need to go through Sagaredjo although the map always shows different way) and if you plan to visit it (I hope you do as it is a must visit place), you need to count on the whole day as the road is terrible (especially the last 10 km) but extremely beautiful. We have seen several people on bikes and I bet they felt sorry that they decided to get there by bike. On our way back one guy asked us to give him a ride but we couldn't take him as there was no space for him and his bike in the car. Luckily for him in 100 meters the normal road started and I hope he was fine.

We didn't understand what it was. But I googled and it could be a salt lake Koptadze. When we were there, there was no water.

Let us play chess

There are many cows in Georgia. Too many)))

And not only cows. A couple of my favourite photos

David - Gareji Monastery consists of about 20 monasteries in rocks. The border between Georgia and Azerbajan divides it into 2 parts. If you climb this hill you can see Azerbajan on another side of the hill. We visited a monastery which was called Udabno.

It was such a blessing to sit and pray in this little church. It was extremely hot outside but inside it was chilly and silent. I had a special feeling there that something wonderful should happen.

2 eyes and a nose

On our way back we stopped at winery, tested some wines and bought a bottle. )) Those wines were Kakhetian and Kakhetian wines are considered as the best Georgian wines.

To be continued.

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