Mtskheta is the spiritual heart of Georgia. Located at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, it was here that Christianity was adopted as a state religion in 337 (Georgia was the second country to adopt Christianity as a state religion, 36 years after Armenia). Some of the oldest and most important churches in Georgia are located here.

The old Mtskheta museum building, it was recently relocated

Samtavro church, built in the 1130's it was the former residence of the lords of Mtskheta, now it is used as a nunnery.

The small church on the right, Tsminda Nino, was built in the 4th century and stands on the spot where St. Nino is said to have prayed.

Nun sitting inside of the Samtavro church

Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedra, built in the 11th century. According to tradition, Christ's robe was buried here. Elioz, a Georgian Jew, was in Jerusalem during the time of the crucifixion and brought the robe back to Mtskheta. His sister Sedonia received the robe from him and immediately died in a passion of faith. Nobody was able to take the robe away from her hands, so they were buried together and a tree grew on their grave. While building the first church at this location, the builders cut through the trunk of the tree but it did not fall. St. Nino came to pray at the site and as a result the tree became whole again, blossomed and started producing healing oil. The church received the name Sveti-Tskhoveli, meaning "life-giving column".

The first church here was built in the 4th century, it was replaced in the 6th century by a stone structure built by King Vakhtang Gorgasali. The building standing today was constructed between 1010 and 1029 on the orders of patriarch Melkhisedek. It was damaged in the 14th century by the forces of Tamerlane and restored in the 15th. The defensive wall around the site was added in the 18th century.