Part Ten, Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Our first stop on day four was at Vardzia, another massive labyrinthian cave monastery. It is larger than Uplistsikhe which we visited on our first day. and excavated over two thousand years later. It encompasses an entire city cut into the side of the Erusheti mountain in southern Georgia. In times of national emergencies as in the frequent invasions, it could house up to 60,000 people. In times of peace, it housed mostly monks.
This underground monastery was built in the late 12th century, under the directions of King Tamar, the only female king crowned in the history of Georgia.
In the late 1100’s the Mongols from nearby Turkey, to the south, were a constant threat to the medieval kingdom of Georgia. To avoid the persistent danger of annihilation, King Tamar ordered the construction of an underground sanctuary. Excavation began secretly and remained a mystery. The only entrance was through a secret tunnel near the Mtkvari River. underground fortress eventually had 19 levels constructed with natural caves and contained over 3000 rooms, including a large church, several chapels, a bakery, a pharmacy, a throne room, and a large meeting room. There are only 750 rooms remaining, after an earthquake in 1283 sheared off the surface rock, exposing the caves had been previously hidden completely underground. The caves stretch along the cliff for over 1600 feet and reached up to nineteen tiers. The site was mostly abandoned in the sixteenth century after the Ottoman invasion.
This video is a good guided tour of the astounding network of caves that once contained 3000 interconnected chambers and tunnels. It also contains information about Akhaltsikhe, our second stop of the day.
Afternoon trip to nearby Akhasltsikhe.
Next, on day five we will travel to Kazbegi and finally meet Roma’s sister, Liana, God in the details
Consider it all JOY 
Amazing! What a beautiful history of faith going back so far. It must have been amazing to walk around there. When I was in Burtigny, the staff of YWAM told me that the history of prayer in their region could still be felt: they believe the veil is so thin there because of all the prayers that have gone before them.
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I love the idea about the effects of prayer lingering. I need to pray more with that in mind. I will say some of the places we went had such a Sacred “feel” to them it was like an electric charge.
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Burtigny was like that for me. I have never ever before felt so bathed in the love of God as I did there. What unfolded there is still impacting me now in so many ways. And God prepared me for the many trials about to come my way. BTW I still remember your message to me there when I was listening to the enemy and beginning to put up a wall around my heart. It was so powerful and truly opened my heart to receive what God had for me…never lose that blunt truth speaking- it’s God gift in you. Do not be afraid to be the bold you He has made you to be. You are defending souls from the enemy’s schemes.
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Wow Anna. I’m so thankful God used me that way for you. Thank you for sharing that. I too often believe the lies of the enemy that tells me I have nothing of value to share, so I should just be quiet.
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We have Jesus and He is our value! 😊 Thank you for speaking that over me so often. Love you xxx
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