Alaverdi, Kakheti Region

Alaverdi, originally uploaded by grijsz.

"Earliest structures of Alaverdi (Geo. ალავერდი) monastery date back to 6th century. The present day surviving cathedral is part of an 11th century Georgian Orthodox monastery. Located in 20 km from Telavi, in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia.

The Monastery was founded by the Assyrian monk Joseph (Yoseb, Amba) Alaverdeli, who came from Antioch and settled in Alaverdi, then a small village and the former pagan religious center dedicated to moon. At the beginning of XI century Kakhetian King Kvirike the Great built a cathedral in the place of a small church of St. George, which today is know as Alaverdi Cathedral. Alaverdi is the second tallest, after the recently consecrated Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral, religious building in the country and its height is more than 55 meters."
Wikipedia