Bodbe Monastery, a sacred, miraculous place

Bodbe Monastery, dedicated to Saint Nino, is located at Bodbe, 2 km away from the town of Sighnaghi, Kakheti. St. Nino is a very important saint for Georgians since she was the one who spread Christianity in our country in the 5th century. She spent the last years of her life in Bodbe, that is why Georgians buried her in this monastic complex.

St. Nino's sacred tomb

Nowadays, a lot of people come to see her tomb, as this place is very miraculous. I saw many people coming out from there with tears, and I have heard many stories explaining how their wishes came true. Actually, you can put there all your jewelry and pray to her with a pure heart. If you believe, whatever you ask will come true. This place keeps many secrets and stories. You will feel it already when you enter the beautiful garden. Nuns, who live there, are taking care of it, and they try to keep it as beautiful and green as it was during the life of St. Nino.

The story of the icon - the Iberian Mother of God

In the church, you will be able to see the miraculous icon of the Iberian Mother of God. In Soviet times, the monastery was closed and transformed into a hospital. They were using this icon as a table for surgeries. Once, one of the doctors had a dream where Saint Mariam told her that they must return the icon to its own place. She believed in God, and she decided to do so. However, another doctor was against it, as he was a nonbeliever. To prove to his colleague that this was just a picture, he took a knife and cut the face of the icon. All these scratches are still visible on the Iberian Mother of God’s face. Suddenly, this young and completely healthy man died. This was a testimony for all nonbelievers to understand the value of this icon and respect it. Nowadays, this icon can be seen on the south wall of the cathedral.

St. Nino's natural water source

In Bodbe, only 400 meters away from the monastery, there is the water source of St. Nino that emerged inexplicably, out of nowhere, in the 4th century. This sacred source has healing features. The water is freezing, but all people who believe in the power of this natural source, simply go there. I was a child when I first went into this water. In the beginning, it was very difficult and cold; however, I prayed to get more strength, and when I got out, I felt warm, and I was not even soaked. This feeling cannot be expressed in words; everybody should try it.

Whether you are a believer or not,  the Bodbe Monastery is a sacred and miraculous place: it has such a positive vibe, that it is definitely worth visiting and experiencing!