Kashveti Church of St George (Kashveti)

The Kashveti Church of St George stands on Rustaveli Avenue opposite the Parliament in central Tbilisi, Georgia. The name Kashveti means 'stone-built' in Georgian, and it refers to a church that has occupied the site since the Middle Ages. The present building was constructed between 1904 and 1910 to a design by the architect Leopold Bielfeldt, who drew on traditional Georgian church forms, with a cross-in-square plan, a tall dome on a drum, and facades of pale stone with restrained carving. The church was built during a period in which Georgian architects and patrons revived national styles after decades of Russian imperial influence. In the Soviet era the church was closed to worship and used for secular purposes, and later it reopened to the Orthodox congregation. The interior holds icons, painted decoration and an iconostasis, and it functions as an active parish church. Its position is central to the avenue, with the Parliament facing it and the National Museum and Kashveti Square nearby. The church is regularly photographed together with the Parliament building, and it has been used as a gathering place on days of national significance. Conservation works have refreshed the exterior stonework and surroundings in recent years. Visitors can enter during opening hours, but sightseeing is restricted during services, and modest dress is expected. The church is a short stop on a walk along Rustaveli Avenue and adds a spiritual counterpoint to the secular monuments along the boulevard.