# Zedazeni Monastery, Mtskheta > Zedazeni is a working 6th-century monastery on the Saguramo Ridge, about 1,170 m up, above Mtskheta and the Aragvi valley. Free, open daily in daylight (unofficially 9:00–18:00, limited during the liturgy). Allow an hour on site; a taxi from central Mtskheta takes about 35 minutes, the last 6 km a steep climb. Web page: https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/zedazeni-monastery - City: [Mtskheta](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta), Georgia - YesGo score: 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; candles and donations optional - Hours: Unofficial: daily ≈ 9:00–18:00 - Services: Access to the church is limited during the liturgy - Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered; women in a headscarf and skirt - Getting there: Taxi from Mtskheta via Saguramo, ≈ 35 min; no public transport to the gate - Road: ≈ 6 km uphill from Saguramo; a 4x4 is safer in winter or after rain - Hiking: From Saguramo ≈ 6 km with ≈ 620 m of climb - Elevation: ≈ 1,170–1,200 m above sea level - Feast day: Zedaznoba, 20 May — busy with pilgrims - Coordinates: 41.87135, 44.76566 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **540s** — St John of Zedazeni, leader of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, founded the monastery (source: English Wikipedia; Georgian Encyclopedia) - **≈ 1,170 m** — elevation of Mount Zedazeni (sources give 1,170–1,200 m) (source: Georgia.to; Georgian Holidays; Advantour) - **Late 8th century** — the three-aisled basilica of St John the Baptist, built under Catholicos Clement (source: English Wikipedia; Georgian Encyclopedia) - **St John’s tomb** — a stone sarcophagus in the north aisle, inside an older 6th–7th-century hall church (source: English Wikipedia; Advantour) - **Zaden** — the pagan fertility god whose shrine, by tradition, stood on this summit (source: Russian Wikipedia; Georgian National Tourism Administration) - **17th century** — the monastery was abandoned after Shah Abbas ravaged Georgia (source: Russian Wikipedia; Eurasia.Travel; Advantour) - **Octagonal** — brick belfry above the south porch, added in the 18th century (source: English Wikipedia; Georgian Encyclopedia; Advantour) - **1970–1971** — the last major restoration of the church (source: English Wikipedia; Georgian Encyclopedia; Advantour) - **20 May** — Zedaznoba, the feast of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers (source: Georgian National Tourism Administration; Georgia.to) - **≈ 6 km** — of road uphill from Saguramo village, ≈ 620 m of climb (source: Transcaucasian Trail (TCTA); Eurasia.Travel) ## How to get to Zedazeni Monastery 1. Start at the west gate of [Svetitskhoveli Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/svetitskhoveli-cathedral) on Arsukidze Street, where taxis and tour cars wait. There’s no scheduled public transport to the monastery, and we couldn’t confirm a marshrutka to Saguramo, so in practice it’s a taxi, a tour or your own car. 2. Book a ride in Bolt or Yandex Go, or agree a price with a driver at the gate. Say up front that you want to go all the way up to the monastery, and ask them to wait about an hour — finding a car back down from the summit is hard. 3. The road crosses the Aragvi to the left bank and runs to Saguramo village — about 15–20 minutes. 4. In Saguramo you turn onto Zedazeni Street and climb ≈ 6 km of hairpins through beech and hornbeam forest — another 15–20 minutes. Around 35 minutes in all from central Mtskheta. 5. There’s a car park at the top and a short footpath to the gate — a couple of minutes’ walk. 6. On foot: from Saguramo it’s ≈ 6 km and ≈ 620 m of climb by the road or the forest trail — roughly two hours up, by our estimate. There’s a spring and picnic tables on the way. Bring water and proper shoes. > **The road up is the hard part** The last 6 km from Saguramo is a steep, winding forest road. It was rebuilt in 2018–2019 and an ordinary car manages it in dry weather, but after rain or in winter you want a 4x4. Some taxi drivers won’t go all the way up, so confirm the climb and the wait before you set off. ## What is Zedazeni Monastery? It’s one of Georgia’s earliest monasteries, founded in the 540s by **St John of Zedazeni**, leader of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers — Syrian monks who came to preach in eastern Georgia. It sits on the summit of Mount Zedazeni in the Saguramo Ridge, on the left bank of the Aragvi, and is a working monastery again, home to a small community of monks. The main church is the late-8th-century basilica of **St John the Baptist**, built under Catholicos Clement around an older little hall church that holds the founder’s sarcophagus. Around it are a defensive wall, monks’ cells, a brick belfry and a huge metal cross on the ridge that, on a clear day, you can spot from central Tbilisi. Legend says the summit once held a shrine to **Zaden**, a pagan fertility god — hence the name. From here John sent his disciples across the country; one of them, Shio, founded the cave monastery of [Shio-Mgvime](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/shio-mgvime-monastery) in a gorge nearby. ## Is Zedazeni Monastery worth visiting? Yes, if you have a car or don’t mind paying a taxi to wait. It’s the quietest and most mountain-like of the monasteries around Mtskheta: forest, wind and a view straight down the Aragvi valley, without the crowds you’ll meet at Jvari and Svetitskhoveli. Skip it if you have half a day in Mtskheta and no wheels. The round trip up and down takes about an hour and a half, and the church itself is plain and dark inside. Go to [Jvari](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/jvari-monastery) and [Samtavro](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/samtavro-monastery) instead — Jvari’s view is just as good and far easier to reach. In winter or after heavy rain, don’t attempt it without a 4x4. ## Entrance fee, opening hours and paying Zedazeni is **free** — there’s no ticket or ticket office. The monastery publishes no official timetable; unofficial tour-operator information says the gate is open daily from about 9:00 to 18:00, with access to the church limited during the liturgy. Come in daylight and leave at least an hour before sunset — the forest road has no lights. You only need money for candles or a donation, so carry a few lari in cash; don’t count on an ATM up the mountain. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work across Georgia, and Bolt or Yandex Go can charge the card linked in the app, but a driver you hire on the street will usually want cash. ## What to see at Zedazeni - **The basilica of St John the Baptist**, late 8th century — a squat square church of river stone and brick with a tall, narrow central nave. It’s dim and quiet inside, with only fragments of painting left. - **St John of Zedazeni’s tomb** in the north aisle — the founder’s stone sarcophagus, partly reaching into the sanctuary. - **The stone water basin** in the north aisle. Tradition says it only fills with water on the Zedaznoba feast day, when pilgrims come up the mountain. - **The octagonal brick belfry** above the south porch, added in the 18th century. - **The defensive wall** and monks’ cells — the monastery doubled as a refuge in wartime. - **The view**: the Aragvi valley, Jvari Monastery on the next spur, the Tbilisi Sea and, on a clear day, Tbilisi itself. - **The giant iron cross** hung with icons on the ridge, right by the monastery. > **Zedazeni dress code** This is a working monastery with resident monks. Women need a headscarf and a skirt below the knee, shoulders covered; there may be no wraps at the gate, so bring your own. Men need long trousers — no shorts — and no hat inside the church. Keep your voice down and don’t photograph the monks or a service without asking. ## A short history John and his disciples settled on the mountain in the 6th century, on the site of a pagan shrine. The Assyrian Fathers spread out from here to preach, and John was buried in the monastery. In the 11th century Abbot Michael commissioned one of the versions of his Life. Catholicos Clement built the present basilica at the end of the 8th century. After Shah Abbas invaded in the 17th century the monastery stood empty; the belfry and cells were added in the 18th. In the late 19th century Archimandrite Alexander Okropiridze restored the church and brought monks back, but the community didn’t last. The church was restored in the Soviet period, most recently in 1970–1971. Today monks live here again, and the access road, car park and footpath were rebuilt in 2018–2019. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Driver agreed to go all the way up and wait - [ ] Dry weather — not right after a storm or in ice - [ ] Headscarf and skirt (or long trousers) packed - [ ] A few lari in cash for candles - [ ] Water and a jacket — it’s cooler and windy at the top - [ ] Back down before sunset ## Zedazeni vs Jvari vs Shio-Mgvime | | Zedazeni | Jvari | Shio-Mgvime | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | 6th-century monastery on a ridge top | 6th-century church on a rock above the river confluence | Cave monastery in a gorge | | Founder | St John of Zedazeni | — | St Shio, John’s disciple | | From Mtskheta | ≈ 35 min, steep forest road | Close, paved to the car park | A separate trip by car | | View | Aragvi valley, Jvari, Tbilisi | Mtskheta and the Aragvi–Mtkvari confluence | Cliffs and the gorge | | Crowds | Few | Many | Some | | Entry | Free | Free | Free | Only time for one? Go to Jvari. Zedazeni is for forest, silence and a view from above — and for people with a car. ## Mtskheta’s churches and monasteries compared Every church and monastery in Mtskheta rated by YesGo. - [Svetitskhoveli Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/svetitskhoveli-cathedral) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free - [Jvari Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/jvari-monastery) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Antiokia Church](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/antiokia-church) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 15 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 ## Mtskheta and its hilltop monasteries in a day The cathedral and Samtavro in the morning, then by car to Jvari and up to Zedazeni. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Svetitskhoveli Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/svetitskhoveli-cathedral) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free 2. [Samtavro Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/samtavro-monastery) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, donations welcome 3. [Jvari Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/jvari-monastery) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free 4. [Zedazeni Monastery](https://yesgo.io/georgia/mtskheta/zedazeni-monastery) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## Good to know Saguramo is the village at the foot of the mountain, where the road starts and where the Ilia Chavchavadze house museum stands; Zedazeni is the summit above it. And St John of Zedazeni, the founder, is not St John the Baptist — even though the main church is dedicated to the Baptist. ## Tips - Pick a clear day: in haze you won’t see Tbilisi or Jvari, and the view is half the point. - Pair it with Jvari — both are on the left bank of the Aragvi, one car, a couple of hours. - It’s cooler and windier up top than in Mtskheta, even in summer — bring a light jacket. - Like hiking? Walk up from Saguramo through the forest and take a taxi down. - On Zedaznoba, 20 May, the road fills with pilgrims’ cars — choose another day for a quiet visit. - Don’t photograph the monks without asking, and never during a service. ## Questions ### Where is Zedazeni Monastery? On the summit of Mount Zedazeni in the Saguramo Ridge, north-east of Mtskheta on the left bank of the Aragvi. Saguramo village is below it; Tbilisi is about 30 km away. ### How do I get to Zedazeni Monastery? By taxi or car: from Mtskheta via Saguramo, then ≈ 6 km of hairpins uphill — about 35 minutes in all. There’s no public transport to the gate. Hiking up from Saguramo takes about two hours. ### Can you drive to Zedazeni in a normal car? In dry weather, yes — the road was rebuilt. After rain or in winter the climb is steep and slippery, so a 4x4 is safer. ### Is there an entrance fee? No, it’s free. Bring a few lari in cash for candles or a donation. ### What are Zedazeni Monastery’s opening hours? There’s no official timetable. Unofficially it’s open daily from about 9:00 to 18:00, with limited access during the liturgy. ### Can you hike to Zedazeni Monastery? Yes. From Saguramo it’s ≈ 6 km with ≈ 620 m of climb by road or forest trail. Hikers also continue east through Tbilisi National Park towards Mamkoda. ### Who founded Zedazeni Monastery? St John of Zedazeni, leader of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, in the 540s. He is buried in the north aisle of the church. ### What should I wear to Zedazeni? Cover shoulders and knees. Women need a headscarf and a skirt below the knee; men need long trousers. ### Is Zedazeni Monastery worth it? With a car and a clear day, yes — it’s quiet, high and wooded. Without a car or with little time, Jvari gives a similar view with far less effort. ## How we checked The monastery has no official website or timetable: opening hours are unofficial information from the tour operator Georgian Holidays and marked “verifying”. Entry is free — no source mentions a fee and there is no ticket office. Elevation differs between sources — 1,170 m (Georgia.to), 1,178 m (Georgian Holidays), 1,200 m (Advantour); we could not confirm a figure of 1,400 m and do not use it. Sources also disagree on the road: the national tourism agency calls it paved, the TCTA stone and easily drivable, Eurasia.Travel a dirt road that washes out after rain; the Municipal Development Fund rebuilt it in 2018–2019, so we mark it “verifying”. The hike length is 6 km per the TCTA and Eurasia.Travel, 4 km per Advantour; the walking time is our own estimate. We could not confirm a marshrutka to Saguramo in any reliable source. ## Sources - English and Russian Wikipedia: Zedazeni Monastery; Wikidata Q2363624 - Georgian Encyclopedia: Zedazeni Monastery - Georgian National Tourism Administration: Zedazeni Monastery - Georgia.to: Zedazeni Monastery - Advantour: Zedazeni Monastery near Mtskheta (Russian edition) - Eurasia.Travel: Zedazeni Monastery - Municipal Development Fund of Georgia: news on the rebuilt access road, 2019 - Transcaucasian Trail Association (TCTA): Trail Notes, Zedazeni Monastery to Mamkoda Village - Georgian Holidays: Zedazeni Monastery — hours and visitor rules (unofficial) --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.