Cathedral of the Blachernae Icon

The Cathedral of the Blachernae Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was built during the reign of Levan V Dadiani (1825–1830) in the city of Zugdidi, located in the Samegrelo region of Georgia.

Adjacent to the church stands the Queen’s Palace, which has housed the Zugdidi Historical Museum since 1921. This museum preserves relics of global religious importance: the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos, the remains of Saint John the Baptist and Saint George the Great Martyr, the shoulder of Saint Marina the Great Martyr, and the hand of Saint Kvirike the Martyr. Also preserved is a fragment of the sponge with which Jesus Christ was offered vinegar during His Passion. Many other sacred items from various churches across Samegrelo were relocated here to protect them from destruction by the atheist regime of the time. The cathedral also contains four large, gilded icon-vestments—one of which bears the name of the “Deposition of the Precious Girdle of the Most Holy Theotokos.”

Every year on July 2nd (July 15th in the New Style), the feast day of the cathedral, the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos is reverently brought into the church, granting the faithful the rare and profound opportunity to venerate this sacred relic. Traditionally, crowds of worshippers and visitors arrive in Zugdidi to take part in the celebration. With the blessing of His Holiness, this date has been declared a public holiday throughout the region, widely known as “Blachernae Day” or Vlakhernoba.

According to inscriptions, the construction of the cathedral commenced in 1825 and was completed in 1830, during the rule of Levan V Dadiani. The funds for the project, along with the revered Blachernae Icon and the Girdle of the Virgin Mary, were provided by Emperor Alexander I, who sent them to the Prince of Samegrelo specifically for the building of this sacred church.

In the early 18th century, Prince Giorgi Gurieli, during a military campaign against King Alexander IV of Imereti, seized the Blachernae Icon and kept it as his personal treasure. In 1805, Princess Nino, together with the ruling dignitaries of Samegrelo—among them the noble Nikoloz “Niko” Giorgis Dze (Georgievich) Dadiani, Bejan Manuchar Dze (Manucharovich) Dadiani, and court deacon Ioane Ioseliani—officially presented the icon to the Russian Emperor on behalf of the people of Samegrelo. The emperor, in turn, returned the icon to Samegrelo and ordered the construction of a church in its honor, designating the location as Grigoripolis, in memory of the late Prince Grigori Dadiani.

Numerous historical sources affirm that the miraculous Blachernae Icon, together with a fragment of the Virgin’s Girdle—both credited with saving Constantinople from destruction on several occasions—represented one of the most sacred heirlooms of the House of Dadiani. Saint Ekvtime Takaishvili, prior to transferring the relic to Paris for safekeeping, lamented the loss of the original Girdle that once adorned the icon.

Among the most cherished Christian relics preserved in the Zugdidi Historical Museum is the sacred robe (talar or riza) of the Most Holy Theotokos. According to ancient tradition, during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Leo I the Thracian (457–474), two noble brothers, Galbius and Candidus, traveled from Constantinople to the Holy Land. While visiting a modest household, they were drawn to the sight of burning candles and the aroma of incense. A gracious woman revealed to them that she safeguarded a precious relic—the Virgin Mary’s robe—which had performed countless miracles and healings. The Theotokos, before her Dormition, had entrusted this robe to a pious Jewish maiden, asking that it be passed down through the generations to another virgin of the same lineage. Thus, this sacred garment was preserved within one family across centuries.

The brothers carried the sacred casket (kivot, a decorated chest or glass-fronted shrine for holy items) containing the robe back to Constantinople, where it was enshrined in the church of Saints Peter and Mark. On July 2, 469, Saint Gennadius of Constantinople placed the relic in a newly constructed Ark of the Covenant (also known as the Ark of Revelation) and ceremoniously transferred it to the Blachernae Church by the sea. Along with the robe, the Ark held the Virgin’s omophorion and a portion of her Girdle.

By divine providence, the Immaculate Girdle, the robe, and the miraculous Blachernae Icon of the Theotokos eventually found their way to Georgia.

Historical sources and oral traditions offer varying accounts of how these relics came to be enshrined in Georgia. One particularly fascinating theory comes from the late folklorist and cultural figure Kalistrate Samushia. According to his version, the relics were brought to the Georgian Monastery of Jvari in Jerusalem after the fall of Constantinople. When Prince Levan II Dadiani of Samegrelo restored the Jvari Monastery, he invited the esteemed cleric Nikoloz Cholokashvili to Samegrelo to lead the Korckheli Monastery, which became affiliated with Jvari. Nikoloz arrived in Samegrelo and resided at the Khobi Monastery between 1632 and 1657. With Georgia embroiled in internal and external conflicts, it could no longer support the Jvari Monastery in Jerusalem. Thus, it is believed that Nikoloz transferred the sacred relics from Jerusalem to Georgia.

The Immaculate Girdle, the robe, and the miraculous Blachernae Icon became the foremost holy treasures of Samegrelo.

Grigol Dadiani entrusted the icon to his father-in-law, King George XII, the last monarch of Georgia. After his death, the icon passed to his son, Prince David Batonishvili, who later took it to Russia. In a bid to retrieve it, Princess Nino Bagrationi offered the icon to Emperor Alexander I, with the hope of having it returned to Samegrelo.

The emperor had the icon adorned with precious stones, encased it in a new frame, and ordered an inscription for the robe and the Girdle. The decree stated that a church must be built in the principality in honor of the Blachernae Icon, and that a new city, Grigoripolis, should be established in memory of the late Prince Grigori. The construction of the church was led by Levan V Dadiani, the successor of Grigori Dadiani. Completed in 1830, the Blachernae Icon, which had been kept at Martvili Church, was ceremoniously transferred to Zugdidi. The Church of the Blachernae Mother of God then became the royal chapel of the Dadiani court.

In 1990, with the blessing of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, liturgical services resumed at the cathedral.

Each year, on July 15 (July 2 Old Style), the Feast of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated at the Blachernae Cathedral in Zugdidi. On this day, the Robe is brought from the Dadiani Historical and Architectural Museum for public veneration. Faithful pilgrims from around the world gather to pay homage. Crowds encircle the church, processions take place, and bells ring out in solemn reverence. The cathedral is located just 300 meters behind the Dadiani Palace. For visitors arriving by bus, one only needs to cross the central road from the local bus stop to reach the church. Entrance is free of charge.