King David the Prophet's Church

King David the Prophet's Church
Georgian: დავით მეფსალმუნის სახელობის ეკლესია
Exterior of the church 2025
Location of the church in Georgia
Religion
Affiliation	Eastern Orthodox
Rite	Georgian Orthodox Church
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Active
Year consecrated	11 September 2001
Location
Location	1 Metekhi Rise, Tbilisi
Country	Georgia
Coordinates	41.689916°N 44.813291°E / 41.689916; 44.813291
Architecture
Architect	Revaz Janashia
Founder	Ilia II
Funded by	Bigi Chkholaria Badri Patarkatsishvili Georgian Patriarchate
Completed	6 May 2001

The King David the Prophet's Church (Georgian: დავით მეფსალმუნის სახელობის ეკლესია) is a Georgian orthodox church located in the Avlabari district of Tbilisi, Georgia. It is the only church in the world to be dedicated to Saint David the Prophet - Psalmist.

History

The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (Georgian: სრულიად საქართველოს კათოლიკოს პატრიარქი) Ilia II (Georgian: ილია II) decided to build a church dedicated to King David the Prophet, as at the time there was no temple in the world named after him.

The construction of the church started on 6 May 1997, and finished on 6 May 2001: the day in which Saint George's Day is celebrated in Georgia. The temple was consecrated on 11 September 2001, on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist, and the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II celebrated the first liturgy.

As stated by the Deacon Tevdore Ambroladze (Georgian: დეკანოზი თევდორე ამბროლაძე), during the construction of the foundation of church they came across the remains of the 17th century Saint Marine Church. The foundation of the church was blessed by the same Deacon Tevdore together with Deacon Tariel Sikinchalashvili (Georgian: დეკანოზი ტარიელ სიკინჭალაშვილი).

The construction was financed by Bigi Chkholaria (Georgian: ბიგი ჩხოლარია) and the church was built in memory of his 8 years old son Giorgi (Georgian: გიორგი).

The church was consecrated as a monastery under Father Makari (Georgian: მამა მაკარი). Musical instruments were purchased and guitar, panduri (Georgian: ფანდური) and singing were taught to young people, creating an ensemble who performed in Racha (Georgian: რაჭა). Moreover, English, Russian, Georgian and mathematics were taught free of charge.

Architecture

The church, a basilica with a pointed apse, was built in the old Georgian architectural style. The architect of the church was Revaz Janashia (Georgian: რევაზ ჯანაშია). The builders of the temple are Giorgi Beraia (Georgian: გიორგი ბერაია), Zurab Alania (Georgian: ზურაბ ალანია) and Murtaz Khvistani (Georgian: მურთაზ ხვისტანი).

The church is built with natural stones from Dzegvi (Georgian: ძეგვი) and old Georgian bricks. Moreover, stones from Nichbisi (Georgian: ნიჩბისი), Bodbe (Georgian: ბოდბე), Bolnisi (Georgian: ბოლნისი) and Chognari (Georgian: ჭოგნარი) have also been used.

The painting of the church was financed by the Georgian Patriarchate and it was done by Lasha Kintsurashvili (Georgian: ლაშა კინწურაშვილი). Badri Patarkatsishvili (Georgian: ბადრი პატარკაციშვილი) also donated 14 thousand dollars, which have been used for painting the church and to complete the bell tower. On the northern wall, a painting depicts an episode from the reign of David the Prophet in which the king, after declaring Jerusalem the capital, erected a new tabernacle moved in it, from the tent of Moses, the Ark of the Covenant. In the lower part of the northern wall, the little Giorgi Chkholaria is depicted kneeling in prayer with a lit candle in his hand. On the western wall, David the Prophet is depicted with the representatives of the Bagrationi dynasty, who consider themselves descendants of David: Ashot I the Great (Georgian: აშოტ I დიდი), Demetre I (Georgian: დემეტრე I), King Tamar (Georgian: თამარ მეფე). Moreover, there is a unique fresco of the Root of Jesse. On the eastern wall there is a fresco of the Virgin Mary-Platytera. On the southern wall there is a unique fresco of David's blessing.

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  Plaque on the church's entrance
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  Entrance of the church
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  Interior of the church
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  View from the yard of church