Zedazeni Monastery, 6th-century monastery on Mount Zedazeni, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia.
Zedazeni Monastery is a 6th-century Eastern Orthodox complex located on Mount Zedazeni at approximately 1,180 meters elevation in Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The site contains a three-nave basilica, defensive walls, and monastic cells carved directly into the mountainside.
The monastery was founded in 535 by Saint John, one of thirteen Assyrian fathers who arrived to establish Eastern Christian monasticism in the Kingdom of Iberia. Their arrival marked the beginning of organized monastic life in the region.
This place transformed from a pagan shrine into a major center of Georgian Orthodox faith. The monks who settled here shaped the region's religious identity in ways that remain visible today.
The site is generally accessible daily, though it sits at a high elevation where weather conditions change frequently. Winter access by vehicle becomes difficult due to snow and road conditions, so plan accordingly for seasonal changes.
The monastic cells are carved directly into the rock face and connected by narrow passages. From this high-altitude setting, you can see the nearby Jvari Monastery and the reservoir that shapes the landscape below.
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