Photos of Motsameta Monastery

The monastery is located on the bend of the Tskhaltsitela ("Red Water") river gorge and was built in memory of two Georgian duke brothers who were martyred in the eighth century. According to local legend, the name of the "Red Water" river is due to the massacre by the Arabs, in which the remains of the brothers were washed by the river to the bend and were later brought here by lions for burial. Locals believe that they can make a wish come true after crawling around the shrine where they buried their bones three times.