Vendors cause temporary closure of Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta

Parish and tourists have not been allowed today to enter the Jvari Monastery in the town of Mtskheta today.

The Georgian Patriarchate says that the reason for the temporary measure is “disorder created by vendors” at the entrance to the historic place.

Jvari, which is a sixth-century monastery located in the old capital of Georgia, Mtskheta, is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage, visited by numerous tourists and Church officials from all round Georgia on a daily basis.

The spokesperson of the Georgian Patriarchate Andria Jachmaidze stated that the monastery was closed on the order of its head Konstantine Jincharauli, as the situation around the site had become “unbearable”.

The monastery is of the highest importance and is frequently visited by high-level delegations, tourists and the parish. It is natural that the head of the monastery wants to see order near the church,” Jaghmaidze said.

Vendors say that monks want to build their cells around the church where merchants have their wares.