The Anchiskhati Basilica is the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi, built in the 6th century during the reign of King Dachi. Its name comes from the Anchi icon of the Saviour, a precious medieval work that was moved here from the Anchi fortress in southern Georgia for safekeeping.
The three-nave basilica sits at the western end of Shavteli Street in the Old Town, close to the Mtkvari river. The exterior is plain stone, almost fortress-like, but the interior holds fragments of medieval frescoes. A separate brick bell tower, added in the 17th century, stands beside it.
The church remained in active use through most of Tbilisi's turbulent history - surviving Mongol and Persian invasions alike. After Soviet-era neglect it was restored in the 1960s and is once again an active place of worship.