St Michael the Archangel Church in Tbilisi: a quiet church with a literary secret
⛪ Active church · ⏱️ 30–60 min · 📍 47 Dimitri Uznadze St., Chugureti, Tbilisi
⛪ Good to know before you visit
| 📍 Address | 47 Dmitri Uznadze St, Chughureti, Tbilisi formerly Velikoknyazheskaya St / Kamo St |
| 🕐 Hours | Mon–Sun: 08:00–18:00 · Sunday liturgy from 10:00 |
| 💰 Admission | free |
| 📅 Built | c. 1851–1875 · active parish |
| 📞 Phone | +995 322 94 22 98 |
| 🚇 Getting here | metro «Marjanishvili», 5–7 min walk |
St Michael the Archangel Church (known in Georgian as წმინდა მიქაელ მთავარანგელოზის ეკლესია) on Uznadze Street is quiet and unhurried — no crowds, no tourist queues. People come here to pray, light a candle and leave in a different state of mind. This guide is for anyone looking for a genuine, living parish church in central Tbilisi.
⛪ The church you could easily walk past
Dmitri Uznadze Street in the Chughureti district was once called Velikoknyazheskaya — Grand Duke Street — and in Soviet times, Kamo Street, after the revolutionary. Between apartment buildings, tucked behind a small fence, stands a church that most people pass without noticing. A modest courtyard with a garden, an understated exterior — exactly what draws people in: a silence that is increasingly hard to find in Tbilisi.
Built in 1851–1875, the church is consecrated to St Michael the Archangel — the leader of the heavenly host, patron of soldiers and watchmen. The nearby Mikhailovsky Military School of the imperial era gave an obvious reason for this dedication.
Inside: icons, candles, a calm atmosphere. The icon of St Spyridon of Trimythous is particularly venerated by the congregation, according to visitor accounts. The staff are welcoming and communicate in Russian; English communication is possible with Google Translate.
📜 January 1889: Zinaida Gippius and Dmitry Merezhkovsky
Here is what very few visitors know. On 8 January 1889, this church was the setting for the wedding of two of the most significant figures in Russian Silver Age literature: the poet Zinaida Gippius and the writer and philosopher Dmitry Merezhkovsky.
They met in Borjomi in the summer of 1888. Gippius had come to the Caucasus on doctor's orders — the climate was prescribed for her health. Merezhkovsky read her his poetry. By Christmas they had decided to marry.
That December was unusually warm, but on New Year's Eve snow fell on Tiflis — everyone was surprised. Gippius recorded the wedding morning in her memoirs: «The ceremony was set for 8 January... The morning was sunny and cold. We went with my mother to the Mikhailovsky church, nearby, as if for a walk: I was wearing a dark steel-coloured suit, a small hat with a pink lining».
The groomsmen were her cousin, who had just entered the eighth grade of school, and a friend of his. Almost no strangers were present. Just the bright rays from the upper windows across the whole church — and two young people who would together shape Russian religious-philosophical thought for half a century.
Their union lasted 52 years — until Merezhkovsky's death in Paris in 1941.
Come on a weekday — no tourists, no queues. If you want to attend the Sunday liturgy, it begins at 10:00. The courtyard garden is small but genuinely pleasant: a good place to sit quietly for a few minutes. Dress modestly: women need a headscarf and covered shoulders; men, no shorts. Agmashenebeli Avenue is a short walk away — easy to combine with a stroll along one of Tbilisi's most architecturally interesting streets.
🗺️ How to get there
1️⃣ Metro «Marjanishvili» — exit and walk along Uznadze Street for 5–7 minutes. The church is beside house No. 47, behind a small fence.
2️⃣ On foot from Agmashenebeli Avenue — turn onto Uznadze Street, about 3–5 minutes.
3️⃣ By taxi (Bolt / Yandex) — «Church of Archangel Michael, Uznadze 47» or coordinates 41.70522, 44.79780.
💬 What visitors say
«Quiet and cosy church. No tourists or crowds, just St Spyridon of Trimythous. The staff speak Russian and are very friendly with all requests to submit prayer notes.»
«This has been my best experience in Georgia. Visiting this church was truly special. The community was incredibly kind and patient with me. I traveled from the United States to get baptized here and also had my first communion. Even though most people didn't speak English and my Georgian is non-existent, they communicated with me using Google Translate. For my baptism, they even prepared the prayer in English for me. I've lived in many places around the world, but the kindness I've felt here is unmatched. I'm very thankful to my godmothers and the priest.»
«A charming and atmospheric church built in the 19th century. It features a small, yet delightful garden.»
«The most serene and stunning church I've visited.»
🏁 Why come here
St Michael Church on Uznadze is not a tourist route — it's a place. Quiet, welcoming, with a history that isn't on display. Gippius and Merezhkovsky were married here, people pray here every day — and no one will look at you like a tourist.
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ℹ️ Active church, free admission. Sunday service at 10:00. Dress code: modest clothing, women need a headscarf. Information is current at time of publication.
Have you visited St Michael the Archangel Church on Uznadze? Did you come to attend a service, or did you find yourself here by chance? Did you know the story of Gippius and Merezhkovsky? Tell us — we read every comment ❤️
❓ Frequently asked questions
💬 Yes, this is a confirmed historical fact. On 8 January 1889, Zinaida Gippius and Dmitry Merezhkovsky were married at the Church of the Archangel Michael on what was then Velikoknyazheskaya Street (now 47 Uznadze St). Gippius left detailed memoirs of that morning. Their marriage lasted 52 years.
💬 According to visitors, the icon of St Spyridon of Trimythous is especially venerated here. The church is also one of the few in Tbilisi where staff speak Russian and are notably welcoming to visitors.
💬 Yes. One recent visitor came from the United States specifically to be baptised here, and the parish prepared prayers in English using Google Translate. For sacraments, it's best to call ahead: +995 322 94 22 98.
💬 Weekdays are quiet — almost no other visitors. Sunday liturgy begins at 10:00. The church is open 08:00–18:00 every day.
💬 Yes, as at any Orthodox church. Women need a headscarf, covered shoulders and a skirt or long trousers. Men should not wear shorts. Visitors are always treated with kindness whatever they're wearing.
💬 Agmashenebeli Avenue, 5 min walk — one of Tbilisi's finest historic streets. Roses Park (Vardebis Bagi) on Agmashenebeli. Marjanishvili Square with restaurants and the metro.
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