Cliffside monastery
Above the river bend.
Jaba1977 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jaba1977 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CHARGERLEVANI — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Herbert Frank from Wien (Vienna), AT — CC BY 2.0 · Herbert Frank from Wien (Vienna), AT — CC BY 2.0 · Roberto Strauss from Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland — CC BY 2.0 · Khimshiashvili1 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A small monastery perched on the edge of a rocky cliff above a bend of the Tskaltsitela river, about six kilometres north-east of Kutaisi, in one of the most beautiful natural settings in Imereti, surrounded by forest and a deep gorge. Its name means «place of the martyrs», after the brothers David and Constantine, of a noble family from Argveti, who led a revolt against Arab occupation in the eighth century. Captured, they refused to give up their faith and were killed, their bodies thrown into the river. Legend says the water turned red, giving the river its name Tskaltsitela, «red water», and that their remains were carried up to the hill where the monastery stands. King Bagrat IV founded a church on the site in the eleventh century, and the brothers' relics are still kept in the monastery, visited by pilgrims. A local legend tells of a secret tunnel linking Motsameta with Gelati Monastery in times of war. Entry is free, so just dress modestly. Visitors walk down stone steps from the car park, the terrace gives a superb view of the gorge and river, and it is usually combined with nearby Gelati.
Above the river bend.
River views.
David and Constantine.
Cliff above a bend of the Tskaltsitela river, about six kilometres north-east of Kutaisi
Yes; it is very close, its cliffside setting above the river is one of the loveliest in the area, and half an hour is enough.
