Kvemo Kartli

Betania

Betania - the cross-dome type cathedral of Betania is located in the region of Kvemo Kartli, 15 km to the south-west from Tbilisi, in the gorge of river Vere. Betania was considered lost and was discovered anew in the XIX century. To the west of the main cathedral there is a small hall church of St. George erected in 1196 by the father's sister of Queen Tamar, Rusudan. Church was abandoned for a long time, and in mid-XIX century it was cleaned by an artist, Grigori Gagarin, who also revealed a fresco of Bagrationi Royal family (Giorgi III, Tamar, Giorgi IV). In 1894-1896 monk community settled in the monastery again. The outer coverage of the Cathedral has been, rehabilitated. Eastern facade and window rims have ornaments. The best specimens of XII-XIII century Georgian mural painting are present here.