Lower Betlemi Church (Kvemo Betlemi)

Why is it significant?

Ascend the picturesque stone stairs of Betlemi Street to reach the Church of Lower Betlemi, or Kvemo Betlemi, nestled on the rocky lower terrace of Mount Sololaki.

Key Facts

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Ascend the picturesque stone stairs of Betlemi Street to reach the Church of Lower Betlemi, or Kvemo Betlemi, nestled on the rocky lower terrace of Mount Sololaki. Constructed in the early eighteenth century atop earlier medieval foundations, this handsome cross-domed temple was built from warm red brick and regional sandstone blocks. The church served historically as the parish sanctuary for the vibrant Armenian community of the Betlemi quarter before being consecrated to the Georgian Orthodox Church in the twentieth century.

Look up at the octagonal drum of the central dome, pierced by slender arched windows that illuminate the intimate sacred interior. The church entrance is flanked by traditional carved wooden galleries and flower-filled courtyards clinging daringly to the steep forty-degree hillside slope. Notice the heavy stone retaining walls supporting the church terrace, built from irregular basalt river boulders mortared with ancient lime that have absorbed centuries of seismic tremors without shifting.

The neighborhood surrounding Lower Betlemi is famous for its vertical architecture and communal Italian courtyards. Because of the extreme gradient of the hillside, the flat roof of one house frequently forms the garden terrace for the dwelling situated directly above it. For generations, diverse Christian, Jewish, and Muslim families lived here in close neighborly harmony, sharing stone baking ovens, preparing grape churchkhela during autumn harvests, and assisting one another through seasonal hardships.

From the tranquil stone balcony of Lower Betlemi, enjoy a breathtaking view across the terracotta rooftops of Old Kala toward the Mtkvari River. The gentle rustling of grapevine leaves and the scent of blooming jasmine create an atmosphere of monastic serenity just steps from the busy modern city below. This sacred hillside refuge perfectly captures the gentle domestic warmth of historic Tbilisi.

Climb the historic covered stone staircase known as the Betlemi Stairs up toward Upper Betlemi Church.