Convent in Georgia. Sighnaghi and Bodbe Monastery. What to see nearby

Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Nino twice a year: January 27, the day of her death, and June 1, the day of her coming to Georgia.

According to the chronicles, Saint Nino was born around 280 in Cappadocia ( modern Türkiye). Her father Zabulon was a relative of George the Victorious, her mother Susanna was the sister of the Jerusalem Patriarch Juvenal.

Nino spent her childhood in her hometown of Colastra and lived in Jerusalem in her youth. Her spiritual education was carried out by the pious elder Nianfora. She instilled in her a love not only for the Holy Scriptures, but also for a distant unknown country with high mountains covered with eternal glaciers. Nianfora also told young Nino that the Chiton of Christ (the Savior’s robe, woven by his Most Pure Mother) was located there, in the Caucasus, in the city of Mtskheta, the capital of pagan Iberia (Georgia).

The Ninooba holiday is celebrated especially solemnly in Georgia. Services on this day are held not only in the capital, but also in all other Orthodox churches countries.

In the capital of Georgia alone there are five churches erected in honor of the saint, and in Zion cathedral Assumption Mother of God a cross made of grapevine entwined with her hair is kept. Parishioners can venerate this cross throughout the day today.

© photo: Sputnik / Igor Boyko

Reproduction of the icon "St. Nina Equal to the Apostles"

Nino began to pray to the Mother of God to help her see this shrine and visit this mysterious country. And then one day Nino dreamed that the Mother of God gave her a cross made of vines and sent her to Iberia to preach the Gospel. Waking up, Nino found this grape cross in her hand. Having tied it with her braids, Nino came to her uncle, Patriarch Juvenaly, told him about what had happened and told him about her desire to go to Georgia to preach. The uncle blessed his niece, and she set off.

Her road was accompanied by many dangers. Nino came face to face with death in Armenia, here she saw how the servants of King Tiridates cut into pieces the bodies of her spiritual sisters, who had dedicated themselves to God, with swords. Nino managed to escape, and she, safe and sound, finally reached Iberia.

Arriving in Mtskheta, Nino settled with the royal gardener. With her prayer, she helped his wife recover from infertility. She performed many other miracles. Cured Queen Nana. After some time, she also healed King Mirian from blindness. There is a legend that during the hunt of King Mirian, darkness suddenly descended, the king for the first time made a prayer to God, whom Nino preached, and the light illuminated the entire sky. It was after this incident that the sovereign believed in God. King Mirian and Queen Nana, together with their children and relatives, received Holy Baptism in the waters of the Aragvi River. In 324, Christianity was declared the state religion in Georgia.

© photo: Sputnik / Alexander Imedashvili

As for the Robe of the Lord, in search of which Saint Nino went from Jerusalem to Iberia, the Georgian chronicles speak briefly about it. Nino heard the following legend: back in the 1st century, a resident of Mkhtseta, Elioz, bought the Robe of the Lord in Jerusalem from the soldiers who crucified Jesus Christ. Returning, he handed it to his sister Sidonia, who, taking Chiton in her hands, died on the spot. Heaton could not be freed from her embrace, and she was buried with him.

It grew on Sidonia's grave a big tree, which became sacred for the inhabitants of Mtskheta, he was worshiped as an unknown deity. Equal to the Apostles Nino, who brought the Good News to Mtskheta, seeing the special grace of this tree, begged King Mirian to cut down this tree, make four crosses from it and install these crosses on the tops of the mountains on the four sides of the then Georgian state.

When the tree was cut down and laid on the ground, healing, blessed myrrh began to flow from the remaining stump, which flowed until the 17th century, before the invasion of the Persian conqueror Shah Abass. The miraculous stump of the tree of grace began to be called the Life-Giving Pillar, in Georgian Svetitskhoveli.

© photo: Sputnik / Besik Pipia

The first church in Georgia, Svetitskhoveli, in honor of the Twelve Apostles of Christ, was built above the pillar, which was rebuilt in the 11th century. Thus, the main cathedral of the Georgian Church stands on the burial site of the Robe of the Lord, which is still located in this holy place. All the main church events of the Georgian Church, in particular the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch, take place in Svetitskhoveli.

At the end of her life, Nino settled in Kakheti in the town of Bodbe, building herself, according to her custom, a hut in which she lived, prayed, and preached. She baptized like local residents, and the Kakhetian queen Sophia (Soji) with her court. Nino lived in Georgia for 35 years. Thanks to her merits, Christianity, preached in the first century by the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, was revived and strengthened in the country.

The Bodbe Monastery is known not only throughout Georgia, but also far beyond its borders. After all, St. Nina, who brought Christianity to Georgia, is buried in this place. Bodbe Monastery is located in the village of the same name above the Alazani Valley, near Sighnaghi.

Where is

Bodbe Monastery is located 2 km from the city of Sighnaghi, Kakheti region

Coordinates: 41.60656, 45.93339

Location on the map:

History of the monastery

After King Mirian converted to Christianity, 4 stars appeared to him in his dreams, which scattered to four mountains in different parts of Georgia. Crosses were placed on the tops of three mountains, and the last one was going to be installed somewhere near Bodbe. This is where Saint Nino went on the orders of King Mirian. It is not known for certain whether the cross was erected.

Nino spent the last years of her life in Bodbe, living in an ordinary tent. She healed the sick and preached Christianity. She died in 347, having lived a full 66 years.

Saint Nino's last wish was to bury her in Bodbe. But King Mirian opposed this. He ordered the body of the deceased to be delivered to Mtskheta to be buried with all honors. According to legend, the ox-harnesses were unable to move the cart with Nina’s body. King Mirian had to reconcile himself and bury Nino in Bodbe on the site of the tent in which she lived.

Before his death, Mirian ordered the construction of a temple over Nino's grave. Later a monastery was founded around the temple. And Bodbe became a real cultural center.

In the 5th century, King Vakhtang Gorgasali decorated the temple and tomb. It was done very richly. The grave of St. Nina inspired such awe that even the Tatar-Mongols, who destroyed and plundered everything in their path, were afraid to touch it.

Subsequent kings rebuilt and expanded the temple. This is how St. Nina’s grave ended up on the right side of the temple. The altar in honor of St. George began to occupy the central place.

In the 15th century, Kakheti rulers even began to crown kings in the monastery.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the Persian Shah Abbas and his army destroyed the monastery. In the second half of the century, the Kakheti king Teimuraz I restored the shrine. A theological seminary was opened at the monastery. It contained one of the largest collections of religious books in all of Georgia. In the 18th century, the monastery opened monastery.

Further history

In 1811, by decree Russian Empire The autocephaly of the Georgian Church was abolished. And in 1837 the Bodbe diocese was also abolished. The monastery was transferred to state support, the lands were taken away. And gradually the monastery fell into decay.

In 1889, Emperor Alexander III visited Sighnaghi. He was so delighted with the beauty of the local region that he ordered the restoration in Bodbe convent. Which was done without delay: the arable land was returned, the monastery was restored, and populated with Russian nuns. A school of painting and needlework was opened at the monastery. Life has returned to Bodbe again.

With the advent of Soviet power, everything changed. In 1924, the monastery was closed and a hospital was placed in its place. Only after the collapse of the USSR did the Bodbe Monastery begin to revive again.

Bodbe Monastery today

Bodbe Monastery has come a long way in restoration. And today it looks majestic against the backdrop of the Alazani Valley.

An asphalt road leads to the monastery, and in front of the entrance there is parking for cars and a small cafe “Pilgrim”. The territory of the monastery is surrounded by a low fence. Admission is free, but only until 19:00. After this time the gates are closed and you will have to wait until the next morning.

Once inside, you immediately find yourself in a small well-kept park with green lawns, neatly trimmed bushes and tall cypress trees.

The paved path will lead directly to the Church of St. George. Visiting is free, but photography inside is prohibited. In front of the entrance there is a basket with free tissues and long skirts for those who are not dressed appropriately for visiting the temple.

Next to the Church of St. George there is a bell tower. It was built at Russian authorities in the 19th century and harmoniously combines with the rest of the buildings, although it differs from traditional Georgian church architecture. Inside the temple there are two shrines - the grave of St. Nino and the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.

In front of the entrance to the temple, the abbess of the Bodbe Monastery, Abbess Nina, was buried.

Construction is being completed in a large clearing behind the park big temple in honor of Saint Nina. To the left of the temple is Observation deck to the Alazani Valley and next to it begins the staircase leading to the source of St. Nina.

Behind the Church of St. George there is a small store with church products. A little further you can see outbuildings and vegetable beds. All around the gates are closed and there are signs indicating that unauthorized entry is prohibited. We only realized later that this was all the territory of the Bodbe Convent and it was not worth disturbing the life of the nuns.

Church of St. George and the tomb of St. Nino

The most revered saint of Georgia, Saint Nino, is buried on the territory of the Bodbe Monastery. Initially, in the 9th century, a temple was built over the grave. Alas, it has not survived to this day. Later, St. George's Cathedral was built on this site.

St. George's Cathedral is a classic three-nave brick basilica. The walls inside are decorated with well-preserved frescoes that tell events from the Old and New Testaments.

The grave of St. Nina is located inside the temple, in the right aisle of the altar. They say that to this day she heals the sick in soul and body. Anyone can bow to Saint Nina and ask for health. It is advised to place an object that you wear on your body all the time (a ring, cross or earrings) on the grave, pray and ask for health.

I don't know how it works. But the sensations of being next to the grave of St. Nino are difficult to convey in words. Some kind of peace, calm and lightness. And the object that lay on the grave of this saint is charged with positive energy. And when you put on a ring or a cross, you feel how this energy spreads throughout your body.

I won’t say that I am a very religious person. But that’s exactly how I felt.

The miraculous Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

Inside the Church of St. George there is another shrine - the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. This miraculous icon, the original of which is located in Athos. Another name for it is Goalkeeper.

A distinctive feature of the icon is the scalpel marks on the face of the Virgin Mary. The fact is that during the war the Bodbe Monastery was turned into a hospital. And the icon itself, turned face down, was used as an operating table. The nurses convinced the atheist surgeon that this was unacceptable. But he didn't listen to them. At night, women crawled under the table, looked at the carved face of the Virgin Mary and prayed.

The carved icon of the Iveron Mother of God streamed myrrh several times. Every year many believers come to venerate the miraculous image.

Temple of St. Nina in Bodbe

On the territory of the monastery there is a large temple named in honor of St. Nino. At first glance at it, you won’t even think that this is not an ancient building with its own history, but a new building. The facade of the building is well chosen and harmoniously combines with more ancient buildings. Construction of the Church of St. Nino began in 2010. At the moment (October 2018) they are still going interior work and you can't get into it.

Saint Nino's Spring

Another important attraction of Bodbe is the source of St. Nina. People from different countries people come to this place to get healing water. It is believed that water gives health, heals skin diseases and helps against infertility.

They say that there used to be a spring in the monastery itself, but over time it dried up. Several times he began to beat in other places for a short time. In the 90s, a spring appeared at the very foot of the mountain, where to this day you can drink healing water.

The source itself is nicely designed. A small temple was built above it in honor of Zebulon and Sosana (Nina’s parents), and below there is a spring and a font.

You can take a dip in the pool with healing water completely free of charge. Several people are allowed into the font, alternately men and women. There is often a short queue. To take a dip in the pool, you need to have a long shirt (tunic). If you don’t have one with you, you can purchase one at the entrance to the font. The water is very cold regardless of the time of year.

If you don’t want to take a dip, then you can simply get water from the source. Empty containers can be purchased near the same entrance to the font. True, these are not small bottles with a volume of 0.5-1 liter, but 5-liter eggplants. I don’t really want to carry that amount of water up on foot for 3 km, so it’s better to take the container in advance.

How to get to the source

There are two paths to the source: a staircase through the forest and a bypass road.

Behind the Church of St. George there is an observation deck of the Alazani Valley. Immediately behind it begins a staircase leading down to the source of St. Nina. The path is not close and not so easy, especially back.

Walk to the source for about 3 km. The descent is a path with steps laid through the forest. All steps were made by hand, so they have completely different widths: from 20 cm to 1.5 meters. This only makes the descent more difficult. There are benches for relaxation along the stairs. True, in the summer you won’t be able to rest on them for a long time - the mosquitoes bite terribly.

The second way is much easier - the road. Its condition is sad, so you will need a good SUV or taxi, which are located near the entrance to the Bodbe Monastery and will be happy to take you there and back.

How to get to Bodbe Monastery

The options, as always, are the same: car, minibuses, taxi/transfer. Sightseeing tours around Sighnaghi usually include a visit to the monastery. Therefore, excursions should not be discounted.

How to get there by car

The most convenient way to plan a trip to Bodbe Monastery is from Tbilisi. The distance is 109 km. You can easily visit this Holy place in one day, and even look at Sighnaghi. You can even stay overnight in this quiet town and spend the next day exploring the attractions in the surrounding area.

When choosing a car, be guided by your taste and budget. The roads are in excellent condition; you can easily get there by car along the highway.

Of course, if you use the maps.me navigator, as we did on our first trip to Sighnaghi, then there is a high probability of taking the shortest route along untrodden paths. An unforgettable trip will be guaranteed, you will see villages and abandoned villages, mountain rivers and stunning views. True, for such a trip you will need an SUV.

Route Tbilisi – Bodbe Monastery on the map:

How to get there by minibus

If you are interested public transport, then I’ll be a little upset. Direct minibuses and buses do not go to Bodbe Monastery, but getting to this place is quite easy. To do this, we take a minibus that goes to. And we get out at the turn to Bodbe, a little before reaching Sighnaghi.

The sign to the Bodbe Monastery from Tbilisi is poorly visible and very easy to miss. Therefore, ask the driver to stop at the right place in advance. Otherwise, you will have to stomp on foot later.

Minibuses to Sighnaghi depart from the Tbilisi bus station, which is located near Samgori. Departure schedule from 7:00 to 18:00, with frequency 2 hours. Travel will cost 13 lari ($5). You will spend about 2 hours on the road.

How to order a transfer to Bodbe

Another option is to order a transfer or take a taxi. With taxi drivers, everything is simple - we turn to private owners on the street, bargain on the price and go.

• Tbilisi – Bodbe Monastery– from 122 lari ($45) for a sedan for 3 passengers and from 150 lari ($55) for a minivan for 4-5 passengers. You can order a car;
• Tbilisi – Bodbe Monastery – Sighnaghi– sedan from 147 lari ($54), minivan from 174 lari ($65). You can order a transfer using this link.

I still advise you to visit the Bodbe Monastery together with Sighnaghi. The difference in price is insignificant, but the impressions will be much greater. Yes, and you need to eat somewhere.

Excursions to Bodbe Monastery

A visit to Bodbe Monastery is often included in all sightseeing tours in Sighnaghi. The advantage of this choice is that you don’t have to study the information yourself, because the guide will tell you everything. The downside is that time to visit the Bodbe Monastery is limited. A descent to the source of St. Nina and swimming in healing water is not included in the program. Therefore, if your goal is to visit the source, then an excursion is not suitable; you only need to get to Bodbe on your own.

When is the best time to visit Bodbe?

In order not only to visit the Bodbe Monastery, but also to see its beauty from the outside and enjoy the views of the Alazani Valley, you should choose the right time. In late autumn and winter there is often fog. They are so thick that you can cut them with a knife. Summer months also not very suitable - too hot.

The best time to visit is spring and early autumn. In April-May it becomes quite warm, everything blooms and transforms. The chance of fog is very low.

September-October is also great. Subsides summer heat, is installed comfortable temperature 20-25°C. Fogs usually begin in the second half of October.

Winter is quite unpredictable. It may snow and you will need a car with winter tires. Or there may be fogs. Although there are often good sunny days.

What to see nearby

Sighnaghi is located 2 kilometers from the Bodbe Monastery. Detailed information Read about what to see in the city of love. A little further is the Pirosmani house-museum. It can only be reached by car or taxi.

Sunny weather and colorful photos to you!

Share your reviews about visiting the Bodbe Monastery in the comments.

There are several reasons to visit the Bodbe Monastery in Kakheti near Sighnaghi. For believers to feel the aura of the holy place and plunge into the holy spring, for non-believers to enjoy the view of the Alazani Valley and the flower beds of the convent.

This is the place where last years The Holy Enlightener of Georgia, Equal-to-the-Apostles St. Nino, lived, preached, and died (about 355).

It was through her efforts that Georgia became a state where Christianity became the official state religion already in the 4th century.

Here she bequeathed to bury herself, the first Christian king Miriam ordered the construction of the Church of St. George over her grave, and subsequently a monastery was founded around it.

History of Bodbe Monastery

Bodbe Monastery, like almost all monasteries in Georgia, experienced periods of prosperity and oblivion. The Kakheti diocese was located here; in the 15th century, educational activities flourished at the Bodbe Monastery, and it was a famous cultural center.

Many kings of the Kakheti kingdom were anointed to the kingdom in the Bodbe monastery.

The Shah of Persia, Abbas I, destroyed the monastery as a result of the invasion, and the King of Kakheti, Teimuraz I, restored the Bodbe Monastery in the 17th century. Subsequently, a theological seminary was opened here, and a monastery operated until Georgia joined the Russian Empire.

After another period of decline, the Bodbe Monastery acquired monastic life only in the 80s of the 19th century in the form of a convent.

The atmosphere of the convent can be felt from afar; it is very well maintained, surrounded by flowers and immersed in a special peaceful atmosphere.

The three-nave Basilica of St. George, where the tomb of St. Nino is located, is the oldest building of the monastery.

The miraculous icon of the Mother of God is also kept here. The temple is considered to have been built in the 9th-10th centuries; inside there are wall paintings from the second half of the 19th century. Photography is not allowed inside the temple.

A separate elegant bell tower, clearly of a later date, was built during the revival of the monastery in the second half of the 19th century.

From the terrace behind the basilica there is a stunning view of the Alazani Valley. Nearby there are buildings with nuns' cells and a staircase that leads to a path down the slope, towards the healing spring.

The spring with a font into which anyone can plunge is famous for its miraculous effects.

Sometimes, in order to take a dip in the spring and get a bottle of water, you have to wait in a long line. To climb to the monastery you need to return to the path and overcome a climb of several hundred meters.

For those who are unable to walk this path, local taxi drivers in old Zhiguli cars are on duty near the springs.

Currently, the construction of a large new temple is being completed on the territory of the monastery.

From the observation deck behind the three-nave basilica, there is an observation deck surrounded by flowers with beautiful view to the Alazani Valley.

Next to the terrace there is a staircase leading to a path along which you can go down the steep slope to the source of St. Nina.

This source is considered healing; it is separated from the monastery by a trail of about 2 km. The font of the source is located inside a small chapel built in our time in the name of Zebulon and Sosana (the parents of St. Nina).

Bodbe Monastery in Sighnaghi is open from early morning until 18:00. This is a working monastery, so women must visit it with their heads covered, like all temples and monasteries in Georgia.

The duration of the visit to the monastery is about an hour. if you want to go down to the source with holy water, you need to add another 1.5 hours.

A little about St. Nina has been written .

What else interesting is there in Sighnaghi

Address: Outskirts of Sighnaghi

Bodbe Monastery, Sighnaghi-St. Nino Monastery, Sighnaghi, Kakheti, Georgia

Foundation of the Bodbe Monastery

In 314 AD, the wife of the Iberian king Miran III, Queen Nana, converted to Christianity. She was baptized by Saint Nino of Cappadocia. The number of Christians in Iberia grew rapidly and Miran III decided to take advantage of the situation to strengthen his power. He declared Christianity the state religion, destroyed the pagan priests and reduced Persian influence on Iberia.

Bodbe Monastery Temple

According to one legend, while hunting, the king stopped seeing. He asked "God Nino" for help, and his sight returned. Returning from the hunt, the king met with Nino and was soon baptized.

In the mid-thirties of the 4th century (data from various sources differ by 2-3 years) Nino of Cappadocia went to a place called Bodbe, where she lived in a tent and soon died. The reason for her journey to this area is a vision of the king. He saw four stars falling in different directions.

In three of the four places that the stars pointed to, crosses were placed, in the fourth I went to last way Nino Cappadocia.

In the fifties of the 4th century, on the site of Nino’s tent, the king built a small temple, which over time grew, turning into a monastery. The shape of the temple is traditional Byzantine, unlike most Georgian temples. By the sixth century, the monastery's influence had increased so much that it became the center of the Diocese of Bodbe.

Further history

The Mongol invasion devastated the monastery and until the 15th century it was not mentioned in any historical document.

After the formation of the independent Kakheti kingdom, the monastery regained popularity, but Shah Abass, who led the Persian invasion of the Caucasus, partially destroyed the monastery. However, this did not weaken the influence of the monastery.

After Georgia joined the Russian Empire, the influence of the monastery weakened, and the diocese was abolished. There are only a few monks left in the monastery, the buildings are dilapidated.

But in 1889, by decree Alexandra III, the father of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, the monastery was restored and part of the arable land was transferred to him.

After the revolution, services in the monastery were abolished and the buildings were damaged (the dome of the temple was destroyed). After the separation of Georgia, the monastery was restored and services were resumed there.

How to get to the monastery

Leave Tbilisi towards the town of Sighnaghi. A little before reaching it, turn towards the monastery (there is a sign on the road).

The active Bodbe Monastery is part of the history of Iberia, which over time turned into Georgia. Having visited the monastery, you will see an architectural monument of the 3rd-5th centuries, learn the history of the monastery, and see the grave of Saint Nino of Cappadocia.

Do you want to come here? The Viva-Georgia team will organize an excursion or tour for you, create the optimal travel route and provide any other assistance during the trip.

Not far from Sighnaghi, in a picturesque area overlooking the Alazani Valley and, if you're lucky, snow-capped peaks Caucasian ridge Bodbe Monastery is located. Saint Equal to the Apostles Nina of Georgia, one of the most revered in Georgia, found her last refuge here.

There is no direct minibus from Tbilisi to Bodbe. The first option is not to think about anything and resort to the help of Tbilisi travel agencies, the second option is to negotiate with a taxi and the third option, the most budgetary, is to take a minibus to Sighnaghi.
If you need to get to the monastery on your own, then you need to take a minibus to Sighnaghi and ask the driver to stop before turning to the monastery. From the turn to the monastery it is about 1.5 kilometers on foot. Back to Tbilisi you need to either go to the same turn and wait for the minibus or go to Erekle II Square in Sighnaghi (about three kilometers), where the same minibuses stop. A trip to Bodbe can and should be combined with a visit to the wonderful town of Sighnaghi. The distance from Tbilisi to Bodbe is about 110 kilometers, travel time is about two hours.

You can ask the residents for the way from Sighnaghi to the Bodbe Monastery or, if you are guided by the names, from Irakli II Square go along Baratashvili Street in the direction of Tbilisi.

The road offers excellent views of Sighnaghi and the Alazani Valley.

Along the way we came across huge flowers.

They grew next to the house, from where a woman came out to us and invited us to look at her flowers.

We pass by a gas station.

And almost immediately after it, turn left to the Bodbe Monastery.

Bodbe Monastery.

Bodbe Monastery is now a functioning convent and you can only get into it until 19-00 and not all the premises. The Bodbe Monastery of St. Nino is one of the main shrines of Orthodox Christians in Georgia and there are many pilgrims here.

Mostly everyone arrives in their own cars, for which there is a large parking space allocated in front of the monastery.

Next to the parking lot, the “Pilgrim” refectory has been operating for several years, where you can relax and eat national dishes.

All food is prepared according to the recipes of the nuns, and the income received from the refectory goes entirely to the restoration of the monastery.

Therefore, by buying something, be it a piece of khachapuri or a cup of coffee, you are making your contribution to this worthy cause.

We also contributed to the restoration and construction of the monastery, without excluding, of course, our own benefit from eating delicious food.

It's time to get acquainted with the buildings of the Bodbe Monastery.

The main attraction of Bodbe is the Temple of St. George of the 9th century with the tomb of St. Nina of the 4th century.

Inside the temple, in addition to the tomb of St. Nina, are worthy of attention myrrh-streaming icon Iveron Mother of God and the 1803 grave of General Vasily Gulyakov, who defeated the Dagestani army at the Iori River. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photographs in the temple. Therefore, I will limit myself to a photo of the territory of the Bodbe Monastery and at the same time say a few words about the person to whom the monastery owes its foundation.

Saint Nina.

Saint Nina, Equal to the Apostles, was born into a rich and noble family in the territory of Cappadocia (modern Turkey) at the end of the 3rd century. Her parents were the Roman commander Zebulon and the sister of the Patriarch of Jerusalem Sosanna.

When Nina was 12 years old, her family left Cappadocia for Jerusalem. The father retired to the Jordan Desert, and the mother began to help her brother look after the poor. Nina was given to be raised by the servant of the Holy Sepulchre, Sarah.

From Sarah, Nina learned that the Robe of the Lord was transferred from Jerusalem to Mtskheta. How the Robe of the Lord got to Georgia is another story, to which we will return when talking about Mtskheta.

At the age of 14 she appeared to Nina in a dream Holy Mother of God and announced that Nina was entrusted with a holy mission to find the Robe of the Lord and preach the True Faith in Iveria (modern Georgia).

Iveria is considered the first inheritance of the Mother of God or, more simply, the land under her special protection. It was the Mother of God, after the crucifixion of Christ, who, by lot, had to go to Iberia to preach the Gospel.

The Mother of God presented Nina with a cross made of grapevine (now kept in Tbilisi, in Zion Cathedral) and blessed her for her apostolic deed.

And at the age of 23, Nina and several other Orthodox girls began their journey to Iveria.

The path lay through Armenia, where the local king liked one of the girls and wanted to leave her. But she refused and in anger the king killed everyone; only Nina was saved by the will of the Mother of God.

In Georgia, through the prayers of Saint Nina, Queen Nana and King Mirian were healed of illness and the Robe of the Lord was found. Soon, in the waters of the Aragvi River in Mtskheta, the entire people of Iveria were baptized.

Saint Nina died in the village of Bodbe. King Mirian wanted to transfer the saint’s relics to Chiton in Mtskheta, but even two hundred people could not move her tomb. Then the king ordered to build a temple over the grave of St. Nina, which has not survived to this day, and to found a monastery near the grave.

History of Bodbe.

Since then, the Bodbe Monastery, like Georgia, has suffered a lot various events. Here are the Mongol-Tatar invasion, and the Arab invasion, a strong earthquake of the 14th century, Georgia’s entry into Russia in 1801 (by the way, the bell tower built nearby was inherited from Russia)

and the closure of the Bodbe Monastery in 1926 by the Bolsheviks (at the entrance to the temple is the grave of the last abbess of the monastery at that time, Abbess Nina).

But during all this difficult time for Georgia, the grave of St. Nina, as a particularly revered place, has not been touched by anyone since the burial.

On the territory of Bodbe there is another temple and, at first impression, it is very old and main. In fact, the construction of the Church of St. Nino (as it was called) began in 2010 and is now being completed, interior and exterior work is being carried out.

Destroyed by Soviet power, Bodbe Monastery has now found new life. Since 1991, the shrine has been revived. Now about 30 nuns live in Bodbe and work in the monastery.

Source of St. Nina.

Bodbe has its own healing spring. They say that before the Soviet regime it was located in the monastery itself, but with its arrival it dried up. The spring filled with life-giving moisture again only in the 90s at the foot of the mountain where the monastery is located. A descent down the center of the Bodbe Monastery will lead directly to the source of St. Nina.

The walk from Bodbe to the source is quite far, about two kilometers, and if it’s easy enough to go down there, then you can understand the climb yourself. For those who find the steep climb back a burden, there is also a road to the source. It is flatter, but longer. As a last resort, there are always taxi drivers on duty at the spring; you can use their services.

The source itself is located in a brick building, where men and women are admitted in turn. To undergo ablution, you need to remember to take a chiton (shirt) with you or purchase it (an excellent souvenir) at the entrance to the source. You must remove your shoes before entering. The water in the source is very cold, you are guaranteed a cheerful mood for the next few hours.

It is not our habit to walk along the same road. After recharging our spirits at the spring, we decided to return on foot to Sighnaghi. highway and didn’t regret it at all. After all, there were so many interesting things along the way: a herd of cows, pomegranate blossoms, and much more.