The Anchiskhati Basilica

The Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary is the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi, Georgia. It belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church and dates from the 6th century. According to the antique Georgian annals, the church was built through the King Dachi of Iberia circa 522-534 who had made Tbilisi his capital. Originally devoted to the Virgin Mary, it turned into renamed Anchiskhati i.E., icon of Ancha in 1675 while the treasured icon of the Savior created by means of the 12th-century goldsmith Beka Opizari on the Ancha monastery in Klarjeti in what's now part of northeast Turkey was moved to Tbilisi so maintain it from an Ottoman invasion. The icon become preserved at the Basilica of St Mary for hundreds of years it's miles now on display at the Art Museum of Georgia.

The Anchiskhati Church, 1890, The basilica became damaged and rebuilt on numerous activities from the 15th through 17th centuries because of wars among Georgia and the Persians and Turks. The brick belfry near the Anchiskhati Basilica become constructed by Catholicos Domenti in 1675.