Kutaisi Holy Annunciation Temple

The Holy Annunciation Church in Kutaisi is a captivating blend of history, architecture, and spirituality. Originally, this site was home to the Temple of Saint Sofia, which stood from the 15th century until the early 19th century. In 1823, an Orthodox church in the Baroque style was built here, replacing the older temple. Today you can still marvel at its preserved religious art, including angelic monuments and Vatican-style paintings of the Mother Mary.

In the 17th century, Franciscan missionaries arrived in Kutaisi and established a community on the left bank of the Rioni River, an area later known as the French Quarter. The church was closed during the Soviet era but was restored to the Orthodox Church in 1989. By the 19th century, Catholic missionaries were granted permission by King Solomon II to build a Catholic Church in 1862, which now serves as the Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church.