Motsameta Monastery
Motsameta Monastery - is located 6 kilometers from Kutaisi, on the banks of the river Tskaltsitela. The modern church dates from the 11th century, but historical records show that the church was built in this place as early as the 8th century. The monastery is built on the edge of a rocky cliff. The complex has a church, a bell tower, a defensive wall and office buildings.
When in the VIII century the Arabs invaded Georgia, many people rebelled against them. Among those who fought against the enemy in Western Georgia, there were two princes David and Konstantin Mkheidze from Argveti. Murvan bin Muhammad (called "deaf" Georgians) Arab commander, ordered the arrest of the brothers. He wanted to force them to turn from an Orthodox to Islam, because he believed, that as soon as the brothers changed religion, others would follow them.
Despite the cruelty of torture, David and Constantine did not abandon their religion. Finally, the Arabs wrapped the brothers around boulders and threw them into the river Tskaltsitela. According to local knowledge, a miracle happened, with a column of light descending from the sky and illuminating the place where the brothers died. When their bodies surfaced, they were no longer tied up and tortured. The Georgian Orthodox Church recognized the saints brothers.
David and Constantine were buried on the banks of the Tskaltsitela River. At first, there was only a small church dedicated to the brothers. It was called the Monastery of Motsameta, which, in Georgian, means martyrdom.
In the 10th century, King Bagrat III ordered the construction of a monastery dedicated to the brothers.The monastery received its last look in the XIX century.
Monastery remains active today and serves as a popular destination of tourism and pilgrimage.