St. Andrew the First-Called Church (Blue Monastery)

Standing on the lower slopes of Mtatsminda mountain, the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called (commonly known as the Blue Monastery or Lurji Monastery) represents one of the oldest structural foundations in Tbilisi. Positioned slightly away from the immediate historical core of Kala, this sanctuary offers an authentic look into medieval Georgian faith and survival. The site directly connects to early Christian history, commemorating the apostle who first brought the Gospel to Georgian lands in the first century.

Historical Evolution and Construction Phases

The original temple dates back to the late 12th century, specifically completed around 1180 during the reigns of King George III and Queen Tamar. It earned the popular title Lurji Monasteri (Blue Monastery) due to the distinctive, glazed blue tiles that originally adorned its conical roof. The complex faced severe devastation during Mongol incursions and was later fundamentally damaged during the Persian invasions of Shah Abbas in the early 17th century. A major reconstruction occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries when local archimandrites rebuilt the monument as a three-nave basilica, replacing the ruined dome with cross-vaulted brick ceilings.

Architecture, Soviet Legacy, and Revival

The structural layout demonstrates an intriguing architectural shift from a classic medieval domed design to a vaulted basilica style. The lower courses of the exterior walls still display original 12th-century hewn stone masonry with fine ornamental carvings around the southern window openings. During the 19th century, Russian imperial authorities added a round brick dome with an uncharacteristic pointed spire, which altered its traditional silhouette. In the Soviet era, the state repurposed the sacred space into a medical museum and a clothing factory, striping much of the remaining internal frescoes. The Church of St. Andrew returned to active Orthodox service in 1990, followed by extensive preservation efforts that restored its internal altar space and preserved the surviving historical masonry.