Motsameta Monastery

It is said that if you crawl underneath the crypts at Motsameta Monastery, your wishes will come true. It is this legend that draws visitors to this 8th-century Orthodox church.

About Motsameta Monastery

To reach Motsameta Monastery, you must first make the hike through the dense Colchic forest that surrounds it. Regardless of what time of year you visit, you’ll be treated to an astounding display of Georgia’s natural beauty: be it the vibrant colours of autumn, a snow-shrouded forest, or the verdant green of spring and summer.

The church was built on the commission of the Georgian King Bagrat IV at the site of an earlier church that was destroyed by the armies of merciless Umayyad caliph Marwan II. The church was dedicated to the memories of David and Constantine Mkheidze, noble brothers who were martyred during the invasion. Today, relics of saints are preserved in the crypts, beneath which ambitious visitors seek the answers to their wishes.

Located halfway between Kutaisi and the more well-known Gelati Monastery, Motsameta Monastery is well worth a stop along the road.