# Antiokia Church, Mtskheta > Antiokia (Antioch) Church is the small Church of St Stephen the Protomartyr, part of a working women’s convent where the Aragvi meets the Mtkvari, a 5–10-minute walk from Svetitskhoveli. Entry is free and 15 minutes is enough. It opens daily in daytime, roughly 9:00–9:30 to 17:00–18:00 (unofficial). The church is the north aisle of an early basilica, rebuilt in the 7th–8th centuries. Web page: https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/antiokia-church - City: [Mtskheta](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta), Georgia - YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 15 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; candles and donations in cash (lari) - Hours: Daily in daytime: 9:30–17:00 or 9:00–18:00 — unofficial, sources differ - Time needed: 10–15 minutes for the church and yard - Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered; women cover their hair and wear a skirt; spare wraps may not be available - Services: Sunday prayers in the convent — not the time to look around - Photos: Inside only if a nun allows it; the yard is usually fine - Location: South-east edge of Mtskheta at the river confluence, 1 Antioki St - From Svetitskhoveli: ≈ 400–500 m east, 5–10 minutes on foot - Coordinates: 41.84131, 44.72447 - Facts checked: 02.11.2026 ## Key facts - **St Stephen** — the Protomartyr — the church’s dedication; “Antiokia” is its popular name (source: Georgian Wikipedia; Georgian National Tourism Administration; Madloba) - **7th–8th c.** — today’s single-hall church — the former north aisle of a three-aisled basilica (source: Georgian Wikipedia (Description of Monuments of History and Culture of Georgia, vol. 5); Georgian Holidays) - **Women’s convent** — still active at the church (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; Madloba; Georgian Travel Guide) - **4th–5th c.** — the traditional date for the first basilica on the site (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; Georgian Travel Guide; Madloba) - **King Archil** — built it to thank God for driving out the Persians, according to the chronicle Kartlis Tskhovreba (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; Georgian Travel Guide; Madloba) - **Aurelius Acolius** — the Greek architect named in a Greek inscription on the stone threshold (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; Georgian Travel Guide; Madloba) - **8th c.** — burned during the invasion of the Arab general Marwan the Deaf (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; Georgian Travel Guide; Georgian Holidays) - **15th–18th c.** — major repairs that changed the church’s look (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; Georgian Travel Guide; Georgia Voyage) - **16th–17th c.** — the gate with a defensive tower on top (source: Georgian Wikipedia; Georgian Holidays) - **Sandstone** — three walls and the gate in dressed blocks; the south wall and tower in rubble, river stone and brick (source: Georgian Wikipedia; Georgian Travel Guide; Madloba) - **1990s** — the interior was replastered and newly painted (source: Georgian Travel Guide; Madloba; Georgian Holidays) ## What is Antiokia Church? Antiokia is the Church of **St Stephen the Protomartyr** on the south-east edge of Mtskheta, right where the Aragvi flows into the Mtkvari. It belongs to a small working convent: a walled yard with a vineyard, pomegranate trees and a low stone church under a tiled roof. The nickname “Antiokia” stuck so firmly that few visitors ever hear the official name. The church is tiny — one vaulted hall, a horseshoe apse to the east and a single west door, lit by just two windows. Next to it stands a gate with the stumps of a defensive tower. It is not one of Mtskheta’s headline sights; think of it as a quiet 15-minute detour between the cathedral and the river. > **Dress code: this is a working convent** Cover shoulders and knees; women should wear a headscarf and skirt, men long trousers. Unlike [Svetitskhoveli Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/svetitskhoveli-cathedral), this small convent may have no wraps to lend, so bring your own. Keep your voice down and ask before taking photos inside. ## Opening hours, entry and payment There is no official timetable. Unofficial listings give daily daytime opening — one says 9:30–17:00, another 9:00–18:00. Entry is free and there are no tickets. If the gate is shut, you still see the best part from outside: the masonry and the tower. The nuns hold prayers on Sundays, when wandering around the church is awkward. Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere in Georgia, including Bolt taxis, but carry a few lari in cash for the marshrutka from Tbilisi, candles and donations. ## How to get to Antiokia Church 1. From Tbilisi, take the metro to Didube and a marshrutka marked Mtskheta from Didube bus station — about 30 minutes, paid in cash. 2. Get off on the main street and walk about 5 minutes to the west gate of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral on Arsukidze Street, where taxis and tour cars park. 3. Walk round the cathedral wall and head east along Arsukidze Street towards the river confluence — about 400–500 metres, 5–10 minutes. 4. Look for a stone wall and a gate topped by a ruined tower. The address is 1 Antioki Street; some maps file it under Arsukidze Street. Put your scarf on before the gate. 5. Walk back the same way. For [Jvari Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/jvari-monastery) on the hill across the river, take a taxi from the cathedral’s west gate. ## A short history of the church According to the medieval chronicle Kartlis Tskhovreba, **King Archil** built the church to give thanks for driving the Persians out. The Georgian National Tourism Administration dates its foundation to the 4th–5th centuries and counts it among Georgia’s earliest Christian buildings. Even the architect’s name survives: a Greek inscription on the stone threshold names **Aurelius Acolius**. The slab is now in the Mtskheta Archaeological Museum. The first building was a three-aisled basilica. Only its north aisle survives, turned into a separate hall church in the 7th–8th centuries. The church burned in the 8th century during the raids of the Arab general Marwan the Deaf and was heavily repaired between the 15th and 18th centuries, when the east window was reshaped, a north window cut and the gate added. Its upper, defensive storey dates from the 16th–17th centuries. The interior was replastered and repainted in the 1990s, when the convent was set up. ## Why is it called Antioch? Nobody knows for sure. The Georgian National Tourism Administration links the name to the conversion of Kartli: King Mirian asked Emperor Constantine for clergy, and Constantine sent Bishop Ioane (John), whom tradition connects with the Church of Antioch. Architectural historian Emma Loosley of the University of Exeter suggests another explanation: this part of ancient Mtskheta may have housed settlers from Syria or Asia Minor, perhaps from Antioch itself. Neither idea is proven. The church has no direct link to modern Antakya in Turkey or to the Antiochian Orthodox Church. ## What to see - **The north wall and gate** — smooth sandstone blocks, the oldest masonry on the site. - **The south wall** — added later in rubble, river cobbles and brick; the change of era is obvious. - **The gate tower** — fragments of the defensive storey with arrow slits. - **The horseshoe apse** set inside a rectangular east end — best seen from the east side. - **The modern murals** inside a bright little hall that feels full with ten people. - **The convent yard** with its vines, pomegranate trees and a model of the church by the entrance. ## Is Antiokia Church worth visiting? Yes, if you are already at Svetitskhoveli with 20 minutes to spare. It is one of the oldest church sites in Mtskheta, tour groups rarely make it here, and you can read centuries of rebuilding in its walls more easily than in the big cathedrals. No, if you only have a couple of hours: Svetitskhoveli, Jvari and [Samtavro](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/samtavro-monastery) matter more. It is not worth a trip from Tbilisi on its own — it rounds off a walk through [old Mtskheta](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/mtskheta-old-town) rather than replacing it. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Scarf and skirt (or long trousers) in my bag - [ ] A few lari in cash for candles - [ ] 15–20 minutes allowed, including the walk from the cathedral - [ ] Going in daytime, not right at closing - [ ] No photos inside unless a nun says yes ## Antiokia vs Svetitskhoveli and Samtavro | | Antiokia | Svetitskhoveli | Samtavro | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Small church of a women’s convent | Georgia’s patriarchal cathedral | Women’s convent in the north of town | | Where | By the confluence, east edge of the centre | Centre of Mtskheta | ≈ 600 m north of the cathedral | | Entry | Free | Free | Free | | Time needed | 10–15 minutes | 40–60 minutes | 30–40 minutes | | Crowds | Almost none | Busy, especially midday | Busy at weekends | Short on time? Svetitskhoveli. Antiokia is a quick add-on for anyone who likes old stonework and quiet. ## Churches and monasteries of Mtskheta compared Every church and monastery in and around Mtskheta rated by YesGo. - [Svetitskhoveli Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/svetitskhoveli-cathedral) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free - [Antiokia Church](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/antiokia-church) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 15 min · Free - [Jvari Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/jvari-monastery) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Samtavro Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/samtavro-monastery) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, donations welcome - [Zedazeni Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/zedazeni-monastery) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Shio-Mgvime Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/shio-mgvime-monastery) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Ananuri Fortress](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/ananuri-fortress) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## Old Mtskheta on foot in half a day The cathedral, quiet Antiokia by the river, the old-town lanes and Samtavro convent — all walkable. YesGo sets the timings and walks. 1. [Svetitskhoveli Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/svetitskhoveli-cathedral) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free 2. [Antiokia Church](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/antiokia-church) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 15 min · Free 3. [Mtskheta Old Town and Arsukidze Street](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/mtskheta-old-town) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free — public streets 4. [Samtavro Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/samtavro-monastery) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, donations welcome ## Good to know You may see the church listed as Antioch Church, Antiochia Church or St Stephen’s Church (Mtskheta) — it is the same place. It is unrelated to Antioch (Antakya) in Turkey. ## Tips - Pair it with Svetitskhoveli: from the cathedral’s east wall it is just a few minutes’ walk. - The best part is outside: compare the even sandstone of the north wall with the patchwork south wall of river stone and brick. - Gate locked? The tower and walls are easy to see over the fence. - The slab with the architect’s Greek inscription is not at the church but in the Mtskheta Archaeological Museum. - On Svetitskhovloba, Mtskheta’s big church festival, the town is packed — Antiokia stays calm. ## Questions ### What is Antiokia Church in Mtskheta? A small church of St Stephen the Protomartyr in a working women’s convent where the Aragvi meets the Mtkvari. It is the north aisle of an early basilica, rebuilt as a single hall in the 7th–8th centuries. ### Where is Antiokia Church? On the south-east edge of central Mtskheta by the river confluence, at 1 Antioki Street — about 400–500 metres east of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. ### How do I get to Antiokia Church from Tbilisi? Metro to Didube, then a marshrutka to central Mtskheta (about 30 minutes, cash). From Svetitskhoveli’s west gate it is a 5–10-minute walk east towards the river. ### Is Antiokia Church free? Yes, entry is free. Candles and donations are paid in cash in lari. ### What are the opening hours? There is no official timetable. Unofficially it is open daily in daytime, roughly from 9:00–9:30 to 17:00–18:00. ### What should I wear? Shoulders and knees covered; women in a headscarf and skirt, men in long trousers. Bring your own wrap — the convent may not have spares. ### Why is it called Antioch? Either after Bishop Ioane, whom tradition links with the Church of Antioch, or after settlers from Syria who may have lived here. Neither is proven. ### How old is Antiokia Church? The first basilica is traditionally dated to the 4th–5th centuries, today’s church to the 7th–8th centuries and the gate tower to the 16th–17th centuries. ### Is Antiokia Church worth it? Only as a short add-on to Svetitskhoveli. With limited time, see the cathedral, Jvari and Samtavro first. ## How we checked History, the architect and the repairs are checked against at least two sources, led by the Georgian National Tourism Administration. Dates differ: tourism sources give the 4th–5th centuries, while Georgian Wikipedia, citing the academic monuments survey, dates today’s church to the 7th–8th centuries and the gate tower to the 16th–17th (Madloba says up to the 18th); we show both. A link to St Nino appears in only one guide, so we leave it out, and sources disagree on King Archil’s relation to King Mirian, so we skip it. There is no official timetable: 9:30–17:00 (Madloba) and 9:00–18:00 (Georgian Holidays) are unofficial. The walk from the cathedral is worked out from Wikidata and OpenStreetMap coordinates. ## Sources - Georgian National Tourism Administration (georgia.travel): Antioquia Church — history, name, architect’s inscription - Georgian Wikipedia: ანტიოქიის ტაძარი — after Description of Monuments of History and Culture of Georgia, vol. 5, Tbilisi, 1990; Wikidata Q12861755 - Georgian Travel Guide: Antioch Church — architecture, repairs, convent - Madloba: Antiokhia Church, Mtskheta — history, address, hours, dress - Georgian Holidays: The Antioch Monastery — dating of the parts, murals, hours - Georgia Voyage: Church of Antioch, Mtskheta — repairs, services - Architecture and Asceticism (University of Exeter), Emma Loosley: Antioki (Antioch) — the basilica and the name - OpenStreetMap — location and street --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.