ZEMO BETHLEHEM CHURCH

The stairs of Kvémo Bethléem lead to Zémo Bethléem (Upper Betlemi Church). Legend has it that the first building was founded in the^5th century during the reign of Vakhtang Gogasali, who had his mother and sister buried here. In the ^15th century, an Armenian monastery was founded here. The church was built in the ^18th century, where Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic services were held. The esplanade around the church opens onto a splendid panorama of Tbilisi. Behind the church, a ramp of metal stairs leads up to Kartlis Déda (Mother Georgia).