Shavnabada Monastery Explained

Building Name:Shavnabada Monastery
შავნაბადა
Map Type:Georgia
Map Size:275
Location:On Shavnabada Mountain, 30 km away from Tbilisi, Georgia
Coordinates:41.625°N 44.7042°W
Religious Affiliation:Georgian Orthodox Church
Region:Caucasus
Functional Status:Active
Architecture:yes
Architecture Type:Georgian
Monastery
Architecture Style:Monastic complex

Shavnabada Monastery (Georgian: შავნაბადა|tr; also Shavnabada Monastery of St. George) is a medieval Georgian Orthodox monastic complex that is located upon Shavnabada Mountain, approximately 30 km away from Tbilisi, Georgia.

It was named in honor of St. George who, according to a local legend, wore a black cloak (Georgian: shavi nabadi, hence the mountain’s name) while leading the army of the king of Georgia in one of the victorious battles of the time. The monastery of Shavnabada is known for a rare variety of wine, also called Shavnabada, made by the monks there.[1]

Notes and References

  1. List of churches and monasteries in the Mtskheta-Tbilisi Diocese. Unofficial website of the Georgian Orthodoxy. Accessed on September 28, 2007.