Svetitskhoveli is one of the holiest monuments of Georgia. Its predator was a little wooden church, built in the IV century by the first Christian King of Georgia – Mirian, on the junction of the rivers Mtkvari and Aragvi where the Christ’s Gown was buried. Towards the end of the V century King Vakhtang Gorgasali gave an order to build a stone basilica called the Big Sioni; it was later replaced by the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the third trimester of the XI century by Patriarch Melkisedek I. Svetitskhoveli has been Patriarch’s residence for centuries now. This is exactly where the coronation and wedding ceremonies of Georgian Kings were held. It has been the major burial spot of Georgia’s most prominent public and religious figures. Svetitskhoveli yard harbors graves of Georgian Kings, Queens, noblemen and Catholicos-Patriarchs (King Vakhtang Gorgasali, Erekle II and others.) The library of Svetitskhoveli was considered the greatest home of cultural heritage.

Ertguleba Charity Fund is an active contributor of Svetitskhoveli’s reconstruction activities. We assisted the construction of Patriarch’s residency, the remodeling of Fathers’ Monastery apartments and the Easter Monastery with its yard. With our assistance the old entrance doorway was restored and a new doorway was built; the Feast Hall and the store of the cathedral were renewed and supplied with various holy goods as well as the Feast Stone. The corner of Ilia the Foreteller was established and the corner of Melkisedek I is being built.