The unique temple was described in Lermontov's works. The building was constructed in the seventh century AD. Nearby is a cross erected by the believer Nino, who laid the foundation for Christianity in all of Georgia.
The Church of the Cross (another name for the temple) is located on a hill, making it clearly visible from afar. All monasteries of that time were built in a similar way. This was done so that each person ascending would feel their reverence for the holy building. The general background and architectural structure of the building are better visible from above. Jvari is very similar to the temple found in Hadrian's Library in Athens, only it has clearer lines and elongated rays on the western and eastern sides.
In the center there is a building with eight sides and very small windows. They poorly perform their lighting functions. On the facades of this building, there are bas-reliefs with straight lines and decorated apses. They are also painted with images of the founders of the Church of the Cross. All the windows are small and have an arched shape.
The very image of the temple is majestic and unique in its kind. From afar it makes a deep impression, and up close it amazes with its beauty. Jvari is the first building included in the UNESCO list. A little later it was included in the list of objects that are deteriorating and require protection. In the mid-2000s, the Georgian authorities carried out restoration and reconstruction of the temple, which made it possible to exclude the church from the latter list.
Anyone can visit the temple if they wish. The entrance is absolutely free, you just need to comply with the conditions of being in the shrine. You can enter only from the north side. At the entrance you will see sculptures of angels holding wreaths with crosses, called Bolnisi.
Crosses of this type were used during the reign of Constantine. He allowed the use of the Christian faith from the beginning of the 2009th century AD. Along with ordinary crosses, the crosses of St. Nino are also used here. Inside Jvari, there is a tall wooden cross, installed in XNUMX.
The elevation on which the temple stands is considered to be even older – it was built during the time of Nino’s educational activities.
In the tenth century, the cross that stood here was taken and broken into pieces by the Arabs. When they were overcome by severe stomach pains, they returned the holy object back. The parts of the ancient cross are in the main monument of the temple. There is no way to verify this legend, so just enjoy the view.
The main scenes from the Gospel are depicted on the large cross. Next to it stands a round candlestick, intended for candles for health. In the left corner, there is another rectangular candlestick for commemorations. Throughout Georgia, there is a tradition of marking round dates with huge candles, similar to those used in Greece - sometimes they reach a height of one meter.
In Jvari there is also an image of Saint Nino. In the image, she holds a cross made of grapevine, woven together with hair. Nearby is a floor-standing icon case called "The Savior Not Made by Hands". Only one page is open in it. There are also wooden icons and figurines.
The temple houses one of the most revered icons in all of Georgia – the Iveron icon. Its original is open to visitors in the Museum of Greece, located on Mount Athos. There are always many people here – they bring fresh flowers and light candles.
Near the Church of the Cross, there are the ruins of another, more ancient temple. The government decided not to restore it, since tourists do not pay much attention to this historical landmark.
