Mtskheta, the first capital of Christian Georgia, is located at the mix-point of Kura and Aragvi rivers. Historical Monuments of Mtskheta are included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. According to the legend, the city was founded by Mtskhetos – the son of Kartlos, who was the eponymous ancestor of the Georgians. One of the Hripsimean nuns – Nune (Nino), who got miraculously released in times of the massacre, fled to Mtskheta to preach Christianity there. First she cured King Mirian's sick son, then Queen Nana. In the 4th century, following the advise of Nune, King Mirian built the first wooden church, in the place of which Vakhtang I Gorgasali built a basilica in the 5th century. At the beginning of the 11th century in the place of the damaged basilica the temple of Svetitskhoveli (translated as a living pillar) was built. Another church – Samtavro monastic complex, was also built by King Mirian, however, it gained its modern look during the reign of Georgi I (11th century).
