The Alaverdi Monastery was founded in the mid-6th century by one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers—Joseph of Alaverdi. In the early 11th century, King Kvirike III of Kakheti built the large Cathedral of St. George on the site of a smaller earlier church, which has since been known simply as Alaverdi. From that time, Alaverdi became the seat of a bishop and the residence of local ecclesiastical leaders. It also became the burial place of the Kakhetian royal family. Over the centuries, the cathedral has suffered multiple damages due to invasions and earthquakes.

Did you know that...

1. The first major restoration of Alaverdi took place in the 1480s. At that time, the drum of the dome and several parts of the walls were fully rebuilt.

2. The architectural complex of Alaverdi, surrounded by a defensive wall dating from the 17th–18th centuries, unites structures from different periods. The palace within the complex is one of the most significant examples of its type in Georgia. It is a three-story building, with the lower level containing a large vaulted hall that served as a refectory in the 16th–17th centuries. In the first half of the 17th century, the brick palace of Feikhar Khan, governor of Ganja, was constructed. Its main hall is an octagonal structure with a vaulted ceiling and large open arches, topped by a smaller square chamber. Other structures include various residential buildings, a bathhouse, a wine cellar, a bell tower, and more.