Jvari Monastery reopened

The Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta has been reopened. As Mtskheta Mayor Giorgi Kapanadze told InterPressNews, he spoke with representatives of the Patriarchate yesterday and was promised that the monastery would be opened today.

The monastery was closed on January 14. According to the official information of the Patriarchate of Georgia, the church made the decision due to the situation created by street traders. In particular, the activities of street traders had been violating the order in the vicinity of the monastery.

"We understand that people are in difficult situation and try to earn living through various means, but when our country has so many tourists and pilgrims, it is embarrassing that the situation in these churches is so chaotic.

The Patriarchate of Georgia addresses the authorities and, first of all, the Ministry of Culture, to take effective steps to ensure civilized activity of street traders in the vicinity of the church," reads the statement of the Patriarchate.