| Svetitskhoveli Cathedral | |
|---|---|
სვეტიცხოვლის საკათედრო ტაძარი | |
.jpg) Svetitskhoveli Cathedral's southern façade | |
 | |
| 41°50′31″N 44°43′16″E / 41.8419°N 44.7211°E | |
| Location | Mtskheta, Mtskheta-Mtianeti |
| Country | Georgia |
| Denomination | Georgian Orthodox Church |
| Architecture | |
| Previous cathedrals | One built in the 4th century AD (by King Mirian III) Second one built in the 5th century AD (during the reign of Vakhtang I) |
| Architect(s) | Arsukisdze |
| Architectural type | Cathedral |
| Style | Cross-in-square |
| Groundbreaking | 1010 |
| Completed | 1029 (during the reign of King George I) |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 57.7 metres (189 ft) |
| Width | 27 metres (89 ft) |
| Height | 49 metres (161 ft) |
| Number of domes | 1 |
| Materials | stone |
| Official name | Historical Monuments of Mtskheta |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv |
| Designated | 1994 (18th session) |
| Reference no. | 708 |
| Region | Europe |
| Official name | Svetitskhoveli Complex |
| Designated | November 7, 2006 |
| Reference no. | 2507 |
| Item Number in Cultural Heritage Portal | 5080 |
| Date of entry in the registry | October 3, 2007 |
The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (Georgian: სვეტიცხოვლის საკათედრო ტაძარი, svet'icxovlis sak'atedro t'adzari; literally the Cathedral of the Living Pillar) is an Orthodox Christian cathedral located in the historic town of Mtskheta, Georgia, to the northwest of the Georgian capital Tbilisi. A masterpiece of the Early and High Middle Ages, Svetitskhoveli is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.[1] It is currently the second largest church building in Georgia, after the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Known as the burial site of the claimed Christ's mantle, Svetitskhoveli has long been one of the principal Georgian Orthodox churches and is among the most venerated places of worship in the region.[2] Throughout the centuries, the cathedral served as the burial place for kings. The present cross-in-square structure was completed between 1010 and 1029 by the medieval Georgian architect Arsukisdze, although the site itself dates back to the early fourth century. The exterior archature of the cathedral is a well-preserved example of typical decorations of the 11th century.
Svetitskhoveli is considered an endangered cultural landmark;[3] it has survived a variety of adversities, and many of its priceless frescoes have been lost due to being whitewashed by the Russian Imperial authorities.[4] It is considered one of the four Great Cathedrals of the Georgian Orthodox world.
- ^ "Historical Monuments of Mtskheta". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Archived from the original on 8 December 2005. Retrieved 27 Feb 2022.
- ^ Dowling, T.E. Sketches of Georgian Church History
- ^ UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger Archived 2015-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved: 1 June 2016
- ^ Oliver Bernier, The Treasures of Tbilisi Archived 2023-08-15 at the Wayback Machine, New York Times. 30 September 1990.