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'''Mtskheta''' is one of oldest cities of the republic of
Georgia (in
Kartli province of Eastern Georgia), near
Tbilisi. Mtskheta was a capital of the Georgian Kingdom of
Iberia during the
3rd century BC -
5th century AD. Here Georgians accepted
Christianity in
337 and Mtskheta still remains the Headquarters of the
Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century, see the photo) and
Jvari Monastery (6th century) in Mtskheta are some of the most significant monuments of the Georgian Christian architecture. In Mtskheta exists also the
Armaztsikhe fortress (3rd century BC),
Armaztsikhe acropolis (dating to the late 1st millennium BC), the fragmentary remains of a royal palace (1st-3rd century AD), the tomb near Mtskheta (1st century AD), the small church of the 4th century,
Samtavro Monastery (11th century), fortress
Bebris Tsikhe (14th century), Institute of Archaeology, the well-known garden of Mikheil Mamulashvili, etc. The city is now the administrative center of the Mtskheta district.
de:Mzcheta
