Commonly known as Sameba, Tbilisi’s kitsch cathedral is located on Elia Hill above the left bank of the Mtkvari in the historic neighbourhood of Avlabari. It is the main Georgian Orthodox Cathedral and is the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in the world. Sameba was constructed between 1995 and 2004 and paid for by anonymous donations from citizens and several wealthy businessmen. The Sameba complex consists of the main cathedral, a free-standing bell-tower, the residence of the Patriarch, a monastery, a clerical seminary and theological academy.
