Urbnisi

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Urbnisi (Georgian: ურბნისი) is a village in Georgia’s Shida Kartli region, in the district of Kareli.

Situated at the Mtkvari river, it was an important city in the ancient and early medieval Iberia as Georgia was known to the Greeks and Romans. Archaeological studies have demonstrated that the place was inhabited in the 3rd millennium BC. The settlement grew larger and, in the 4th century BC turned to a city with thriving commerce and culture. Ruins of a fortress, rich baths, pagan sanctuaries and even a Jewish temple suggest the importance of the city. Burned structures and round catapult stones indicate the city may have been under a siege and subsequently sacked in ca 3rd century BC. The new era in Urbnisi’s life began with the conversion of Iberia into Christianity. It turned now into a major center of Georgian Orthodox culture. From the 6th to 7th centuries, a strong system of fortifications was erected around the city, that did not prevent, however, the Arab commander Marwan (future Caliph from 744 to 750) from capturing the city in the 730s. Following the invasion, it declined to a small village. However, the Urbnisi monastery of St Stephen continued to function as a center of Georgian Orthodox diocese.

The monastery is a 6th-7th-century three nave basilica which was rebuilt twice in the 10th and 17th centuries. Quite a simple and large church, it is based on 12 strong pillars for three naves. There are many inscriptions on the walls of the monastery which are thought to be the examples of the 6th-7th-century Georgian alphabet.

Near the village is an 8th-9th-century domed church, Ruisi Cathedral of Divinity, which serves as a center of the Urbnisi-Ruisi eparchy of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Both Urbnisi Monastery and Ruisi Cathedral are known for a major ecclesiastic council convened here in 1103/4 by the Georgian king David the Builder to cope with problems within the church hierarchy.