Zion Cathedral of Tbilisi

The Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Zion, is a Georgian Orthodox cathedral located in downtown Tbilisi, Georgia. It is situated in historic Sionis Kucha (Sioni Street), with its eastern façade fronting the right embankment of the Kura River. The cathedral was initially built in the 6th and 7th centuries, but it has been destroyed by foreign invaders and reconstructed several times since then. The current church is based on a 13th-century version with some changes from the 17th to 19th centuries. It is a typical example of medieval Georgian church architecture of an inscribed cross-in-square design with projecting polygonal apses in the east façade. The main entrance is on the west side, and the dome with the tholobate is a prominent feature of the cathedral.

The Sioni Cathedral was the main Georgian Orthodox Cathedral and the seat of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia until the Holy Trinity Cathedral was consecrated in 2004. The cathedral is commonly known as the "Tbilisi Sioni" to distinguish it from several other churches across Georgia bearing the name Sioni. It is a cross-domed temple dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and also serves as a burial ground for many notable religious figures.
Visitors can appreciate the exterior and interior of the cathedral, which are decorated in the orthodox style.

-- Sioni Cathedral, Tbilisi
-- Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral - Wikipedia
-- Sioni Cathedral | Georgian Travel Guide