GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Holy Trinity Cathedral

Gold domes rising from Tbilisi's hills

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Why go

Sameba, as Georgians call it, crowns the hill of Saint Elia as the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral on Earth. Consecrated in 2004 after a decade of construction, it was built on the site of an ancient church destroyed by Soviet forces, making it both a symbol of national revival and spiritual resilience. The cathedral complex includes a monastery, theological academy, and bell tower. Its gilded cupolas are visible from nearly every corner of the capital, yet the interior—adorned with frescoes by Georgian masters and icons painted in the traditional Byzantine style—reveals itself only to those who climb the hill.

On the ground See

  • The 7.5-meter icon of the Virgin Mary in the central nave, painted using traditional egg tempera by Georgian iconographer Amiran Goglidze
  • The underground chapel of Saint Nino, where a fragment of the True Cross is kept and liturgy is held in the ancient Georgian language
  • The panoramic terrace behind the cathedral at sunset, when the golden domes catch the last light and the entire city unfolds below

Practical Know before you go

Open daily 8am–8pm; dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees required); the approach from Avlabari metro station involves a steep 15-minute uphill walk, or take marshrutka 124 from Rustaveli Avenue.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly