Martvili Monastery, Medieval monastery in Martvili, Georgia
Martvili Monastery is a medieval religious complex in Georgia that sits on a hilltop overlooking the valleys of the Tskhenistskali and Abasha rivers. The site is centered on a main temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with a three-story stone church called Chikvanebi standing nearby and displaying late feudal architectural styles.
The site was originally a place of pre-Christian worship, marked by an ancient oak tree, before becoming a Christian holy place in the 7th century. Under King George II, the monastery developed into an established religious center in the region.
The monastery served as a major center for copying texts and preserving knowledge in medieval western Georgia. Monks worked here on religious and literary works that shaped Georgian culture.
The monastery sits on a hilltop with good views of the surrounding area, making it relatively accessible and easy to navigate. The grounds include a chapel with a museum housed in a royal room where historical artifacts and religious items are displayed.
The monastery was long a center for copying manuscripts, with monks preserving and spreading works in the Georgian language for future generations. This scribal activity made it one of the most important places for keeping Georgian literary tradition alive in medieval times.
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