Betania Monastery

source: fotofile.ru

Betania monastery is located about twenty kilometers south - west of Tbilisi. This monastery was founded in the 11^th century in honor of the Nativity of the Mother of God and served as the family tomb of the princes Orbeliani. Inside the beautiful frescoes have survived in 1207, depicting King George III and his daughter Queen Tamara. King George is depicted with a crown on his head and a sword, because of which suggest that the frescoes were made after his coronation to the throne. On the south wall shows the architect of the monastery and Sumbatov Orbeliani man who ordered the construction of the monastery. After some - while the monastery came to a complete desolation. However, in the 20^th century it was restored and at the end of the century the monastery became the first monastery, opened in Soviet times.