Motsameta monastery, Orthodox monastery on a cliff near Kutaisi, Georgia.
Motsameta is an Orthodox monastery set on a cliff overlooking the Tskaltsitela river, with a cross-domed church, bell tower, and monks' quarters forming its main structures. The complex also includes an entrance gate, a covered hall, a bishop's residence, and a crypt that holds the remains of two venerated saints.
The monastery was established in the 11th century when King Bagrat IV built a temple at the site where two princes named David and Constantine had been martyred. This sacred place later developed into a major religious center and memorial for these two saints.
The monastery is a place of pilgrimage where visitors come to honor two saints whose memory has been cherished for centuries. On the October celebration, local people and pilgrims gather together to pray and pay respects at this sacred site.
The monastery sits on a high cliff with steep approaches, so sturdy footwear and basic fitness help for visiting. Daytime visits in good weather offer the safest and most rewarding experience, as you can see the buildings and surrounding landscape clearly.
The altar here faces north rather than east, a rare arrangement in Orthodox churches that puzzles many visitors. This unusual orientation exists because the remains of the two martyred saints are placed in the church's eastern section, requiring the altar to turn in a different direction.
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