SIGHTSEEING

Alaverdi Monastery ("Alaverdi" is Turkish-Arab word and means "Given by God") is a Georgian Orthodox monastery located near Telavi in the Alazani-River valley in Kakheti region. Founded by the Assyrian monk Joseph Alaverdeli (after the death he was buried in this church; the tomb still exists). The monastery dates to the 6th century but the present day cathedral replaces a smaller church and was built in the 11th century by Kvirike III of Kakheti.
At a height of over 55 meters, Alaverdi Cathedral is the second tallest religious building in Georgia, after the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) in Tbilisi.
Alaverdi temple repeatedly suffered invasions and earthquakes. In the XV century, King Alexander I restored it, but back in 1530 the cathedral suffered from the earthquake and later King Levan again restored it.
In 1614, the ruinous invasion of Shah Abbas touched Alaverdi. King Teimuraz I fled to Imereti, and took icons from the monastery in Svetitskhoveli. Later Turkmen tribes turned the monastery to the cowshed and the prison. In 1659, there was Bakhtrion uprising against the Persians and Turkmens, and says that the rebels captured the fortress Bakhtrioni and Alaverdi.
After the annexation of Georgia to Russia and the abolition of the autocephaly of the Georgian Church diocese was liquidated in 1828, then rebuilt several times in different forms, in 1917 it was restored again.

Now inside of monastery is the cathedral of St. George, residential buildings and a wine storage, the Bishop's Palace, refectory, chapel, wine cellar, a bath and so forth.
Monks at the monastery produce wine in a restored 11th century wine cellar using the traditional kvevri wine making method.
The interior of the cathedral is very imposing and contains frescoes from the 11th and 15th -16th centuries.
Alaverdoba (the annual religious celebration of Monastery) is held at the end of September.