Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition, Tbilisi

Sioni Cathedral traces its origins back to the early Christian era-first constructed in the 6th and 7th centuries, and possibly begun by King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the founder of Tbilisi. The cathedral that stands today largely reflects a 13th-century reconstruction, with additional restorations spanning from the 17th to 19th centuries. It served as the main Georgian Orthodox cathedral and the seat of the Catholicos‑Patriarch until the Holy Trinity Cathedral was completed in 2004.

Featuring a classic Georgian cross-in-square layout, the cathedral is built from characteristic yellow Bolnisi tuff stone. Its design includes a central dome on pillars, polygonal eastern apses, and ornately carved window frames and façades adorned with religious motifs. One of its most cherished treasures is Saint Nino’s grapevine cross, reputedly crafted from vine and her own hair-a deeply venerated relic central to Georgia’s Christian heritage.

Sioni has endured through epochs of invasion, devastation, and revival-from Mongol and Persian raids to earthquakes. Notably, Jalal ad-Din destroyed its dome in 1226, only for it to be rebuilt in the following centuries. Inside, murals painted by the Russian artist Prince Grigory Gagarin in the mid-19th century overlay earlier iconography, while later contributions by Georgian artist Levan Tsutskiridze bring modern artistic interpretation to the sacred space.

Beyond its architectural and artistic significance, it houses the tombs of prominent church figures, including patriarchs of the 20th century, making it both a place of worship and remembrance.