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Kashveti

Legend tells about Kashveti church: In Tbilisi, on the Mtatsminda mountain, before St. David settled there, there were number of fore-worshippers and Georgian Christians. Among fire-worshippers were Khosro and Sosia, brothers of Rajhden. Khorso’s son Musasa fell in love with Christian Mariam. Mariam became pregnant. Khosro was making Mariam to say that she was pregnant from St. David. People belived and wanted to punish St. David. St. David came to Mariam, put his hand on her belly and asked: “my child tell me who is your father?” – people were astonished to hear the child voice: “son of Khosro, Musa”. At once Mariam gave a birth to a blach stone, which was put in the foundation of a new church. That’s how it was named “Kvashveti” (means giving birth to a stone) or “Kuashveti” Church. Modern building of the church was done in XIX century and it carries the style of Samtavisi, old Georgian temple. There was a domelike church in the VI century, which was replaced by in the XVIII century with a new building. Famouse Georgian writer Grigol Orbeliani (1800-1883) was buried inside the church. Church walls were painted by Georgia’s popular artist Lado Gudiashvili.

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