David Gareji monastery complex

David Gareji
დავით გარეჯი
The monastic complex of David Gareji
Religion
Affiliation	Georgian Orthodox Church
Status	Active: Structures still in good condition; Dispute between Georgia and Azerbaijan over territory that part of the monastic complex sits upon.
Location
Location	Kakheti, Georgia
Shown within Georgia
Geographic coordinates	41°26′50″N 45°22′35″E / 41.4473°N 45.3765°E / 41.4473; 45.3765
Architecture
Type	Monastic complex
Style	Georgian; Monastery
Founder	St. David of Gareji
Funded by	Saint Ilarion during the 9th century, Georgian royal and noble families
Groundbreaking	6th century
Completed	6th century, 9th century

David Gareji (Georgian: დავითგარეჯის სამონასტრო კომპლექსი) is a rock-hewn Georgian Orthodox monastery complex located in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, on the half-desert slopes of Mount Gareja on the edge of Iori Plateau, some 60–70 km southeast of Georgia's capital Tbilisi. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock face.

Part of the complex of David Gareji (Bertubani Monastery) is located on the Azerbaijan–Georgia border and has become subject to a border dispute between the two countries.^[1] The area is also home to protected animal species and evidence of some of the oldest human habitations in the region.