David Gareji Monastery: A Cave Complex on the Georgian-Azerbaijani Border

The David Gareji monastery complex is one of the most important religious and cultural centers in Georgia. Founded in the 6th century by St. David Garejeli, one of the thirteen Assyrian monks, the complex expanded over centuries into a network of cave monasteries. The site is located in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, on the half-desert slopes of Mount Gareja, about 60-70 km southeast of Tbilisi. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories, and living quarters carved out of the rock face. The building process reached its zenith in the 12th and 13th centuries, during Georgia's cultural and political rise. Monastic life and a unique building style developed here, along with its own school of fresco painting. Some unique mural paintings are preserved in the Gareji monasteries, the oldest of which date back to the 8th century. Despite the harsh environment, the monastery remained an important center of religious and cultural activity for many centuries. At certain periods, the monasteries owned extensive agricultural lands and many villages. The complex suffered invasions and periods of decline, including devastation by the Mongol army in 1265, but was later restored by Georgian kings. Today, the monastery is active and serves as a popular destination for tourism and pilgrimage. Part of the David Gareji complex is located on the Azerbaijan–Georgia border, which has been subject to a border dispute between the two countries. As of spring 2025, access to the Lavra Monastery is unrestricted, but the Udabno Monastery remains inaccessible.