Motsameta Monastery, Orthodox monastery on a cliff near Kutaisi, Georgia.
Motsameta is a walled Orthodox monastery on a rocky, wooded mountain in the Tskaltsitela river valley. Its church, rebuilt in 1844–1845 and given a dome in the 1860s, has a cross-in-square plan and an altar facing north. A two-storey bell tower stands 1.5 m south of the church, and the entrance gate occupies the ground floor of a 16th–17th-century tower.
The monastery's name means "Place of the Martyrs", referring to David and Constantine, princes of Argveti, who were killed by Arab forces in the 8th century after refusing to convert to Islam. Their remains were thrown into the river, which was called Tskaltsitela, "red water". King Bagrat IV founded a temple here in the 11th century; the present church was rebuilt in 1844–1845 and received its dome in the 1860s.
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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