Anchiskhati Basilica, Tbilisi

The Anchiskhati Basilica of Saint Mary stands as an enduring symbol of Georgia’s spiritual and architectural legacy. Constructed in the 6th century, around 522–534 AD, under King Dachi of Iberia, it is the oldest surviving church in the Georgian capital. This venerable basilica initially served as the main place of worship in the newly founded capital.

Originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the church received its current name-Anchiskhati, meaning “icon of Ancha”-in the 17th century. This was when the revered Ancha icon of the Savior, brought to Tbilisi from the Ancha Monastery, was enshrined here to protect it from Ottoman threats.

Architecturally, Anchiskhati is a three-nave basilica distinguished by horseshoe-shaped conches and robust tuff-stone construction-elements that highlight early Christian design in Georgia. Over the centuries, it endured destruction wrought by invasions and natural disasters, but successive restorations-in the 15th to 17th centuries and notably in the mid-20th century-helped preserve its character, including the removal of later Russian-era additions.

Inside, visitors are greeted by frescoes painted in the late 17th and 19th centuries, along with a modest but evocative iconostasis. The basilica also resonates with history through the haunting beauty of Georgian polyphonic choir performances-a tradition proudly upheld by the Anchiskhati Choir, regarded as one of the finest ambassadors of this vocal art form.