Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli, which translates from Georgian as "life-giving pillar," is the main patriarchal cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church. It was built in honor of the Twelve Apostles in the city of Mtskheta and has been a World Heritage site since 1994. This temple is the largest surviving historical structure in Georgia. Its shape is an elongated rectangle, stretching from west to east. The architectural image of the temple creates the impression of a cross, with its arms pointing in the four cardinal directions. The eastern arm ends with an apse, giving the temple a special beauty and harmony.