Church of Gergeti Trinity

Gergeti Cathedral of Holy Trinity is situated in Stepantsminda and Khevi Eparchy in the north part of Kazbegi region on the right bank of the tributary Chkheri, of the River Tergi. It is 2200 meters from the sea level.
The Gergeti Holy Trinity Cathedral is a remarkable pattern of georgian architecture. According to the old architectural style the very cathedral is likely to be built in XIV century, as a monastery complex. There is a domed church named after the Holy Trinity surrounded by the fence. On the south part of the church there is a bell tower and a cell, where according to ancient customs the most important decisions were made.
Above mentioned church is considered to be the first domed temple where only the basilicas were built. The icons which adorn the church walls have been there since it was built. There are two entrances to the church, one from the south part and another from the east part. It is the two storey construction. The first floor is unobserved by the strange eye and it represents the space where people could hide from the enemy. That means that the church had a self - defense function.
According to Vakhushti Batonishvili, during the different evasions, treasure owned by Georgian churches, was often hidden in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Gergeti. For the same reason was St. Nino's Cross stored there.
Gergeti church was built on the territory of the village Gergeti. Later locals moved to lower lands though the remains of the village are still possible to see there. Gergeti inhabitants were considered to be the servants of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, so they became honored to take care of the church. The nearby lands were owned by the Orthodox fathers' monastery.
" History of Iveria " by Teimuraz Bagrationi provides the information that, initially on the mount of Holy Trinity a cross was standing, as for the church, it was built there later.
The legend states that the kings of Kartly, Kakheti and Imerety argued about where to built the church. Finally an old man from Mtskheta told them to butcher the cows and to place their pelvic bones at the end of the village, he said that a raven would take the remains to eat, so the kings would have to follow it and observe the place where the raven would rest to eat the food, and the very place should be the site where the church was necessary to be built. Later everything happened as it had been told by the old man,so the Holy Trinity Church now stands where supposedly the raven landed to eat its food. 
The basement was immediately dug and the construction wors were started. Which were 15 kilometers far from the building site. Drinking water for the masons was brought by the shepherd from the stream. Nowadays that stream is calld "Kalatha's Stream" (mason's streamm).
Since the church was built and fathers' Monastery was founded, in the history of Khevi region, every important event has been connected with the Holy Trinity Church of Gergerti. The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Gergeti is regarded as the priceless trasure of Georgian people and Georgian itself.
In 2004 the cells were built near the church. Since then the monastery life has been restored. It conduits active, piritual life you can even attuned services there.
Highly spiritual life of our ancestors is also proved by the caves, built on the mountain side, where Georgin monks lived. The caves are known as "Naberali", "Berebis Abano" (monk's bath), "Bethlemi cave". The history of "Bethlemi Cave" was used as a plot for the poem "Gandegili" by Ilia Chavchavadze. 
"Bethlemi Cave" was blessed during the celebration of 2000 Christmas anniversary. It is situated on the highest site of all the Orthodox Churches in the world. It is 4200 meters high from the sea level. 
St. Fathers and monks lived there from VI century. Its history states that MOse's tent and Jesus Christ's cradle could be seen in "Bethlemi Cave". In 1999 by the leadership of metropolitan Nickoloz and with the participation of mount slimers and local inhabitants a small church was built on 4200 meters from the sea level, letting people attend the service.