Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

By Georgian tradition, a Jew of Mtskheta named Elioz was in Jerusalem at the Crucifixion and brought home Christ’s robe. His sister Sidonia held it and died, and she was buried with it. A great cedar grew from her grave, and St. Nina had it cut into pillars for the first church, one of which, it is said, streamed healing myrrh. The present cathedral, built in 1029, gives the place its name, the Life-giving Pillar. Georgian kings were crowned and buried here.

• Date: 4th century, rebuilt 1029