The caveat has to come in the first line: this is not that Gelati. The famous monastery founded by David the Builder and inscribed on the World Heritage list stands lower down the slope, some four hundred metres from here. This is a different church, called Upper Gelati.
The church is dedicated to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, among the most venerated in the Orthodox world: its name comes from the Iviron monastery on Mount Athos, founded by people from Georgia. The century of building is not established, and we will not tie it to the era of David the Builder. The Gelati district holds other holy places too, including a male monastery of the Archangels.
The place is quiet and the tourist flow passes lower down the slope. Dress modestly, women wear a headscarf, and keep quiet inside. The climb is short and the road a village one.
📍 In brief
- A church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, known as Upper Gelati
- The slope north-east of Kutaisi, above the main monastic complex
- The name of the Iveron Icon goes back to the Georgian monastery on Mount Athos
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark - the slope above the main Gelati complex, north-east of Kutaisi
- The Build Route button will take you to the spot
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