The Church of Martvili (Martyrs) is located in the town of Martvili. It was built in the first half of the VII century. In X century, after foundation of Chkondidi Episcopacy, Martvili became the Cathedral of As­sumption of the Virgin Mary. The Chkon­didi Archbishop was assigned the position of Mtsignobartukhutsesi (Prime Minister) by David Agmashenebeli in 1104.

There was a scriptorium in the monastery. Collection of manuscripts created here is in safe keeping at the National Center of Manuscripts. Martvili church is a construction of earlier cross-dome types of buildings and looks very much like Jvari monastery in Mtskheta. Invasions of Turks and Arabs have damaged it considerably, and due to that, in the X century, the church was substantially overhauled by the king of the Abkhaz, Giorgi II (923-957). New support of the dome was made, outer walls were added, burial vault was leaned to. The painting of the monastery was performed in the XVI-XVII centuries by orders of Odishi rulers. To the north of the main cathedral, on the fence stands three-level minuscule cross-dome type church of Chikvani constructed of cut stones. According to Kartlis Tskhovreba (Georgian Chronicles), the Georgian king, Bagrat IV (1027-1072), was laid to rest in the Martvili monastery.

In ancient times Chkondidi was a hotbed of heathen religious and cult activities. There was a heathen altar on the high hillock – a huge oak (Chkondi) tree. It was a place named after Kapunia, the patron of fertility, reproduction and well-being of the family, who was worshipped by the local population and where local clerics – Chkoindari – sacrificed babies. The first church was arguably built here, on the place where oak tree stood, named after Andrew the First-called who preached Christianity in Samegrelo.

From 2007 the monastery life in Martvili was revived, and the monks’ monastery of St. Andrew the First-called and a Convent of St. Nino were founded.

100 Sights of Georgia