# Summary

The Martvili Monastery, originally a Pagan worship site centered around a Great Oak Tree, transitioned to a Christian cathedral in the 7th century, reflecting Georgia's religious shift, and continues to be a place of reflection on the complexities and impacts of religious practices throughout history.

# Abstract

The Martvili Monastery, situated atop a hill in Martvili, Georgia, has a storied past rooted in Paganism, where rituals for fertility and prosperity once took place under a revered oak tree, symbolizing the region's pre-Christian beliefs. The site's transformation began in the 7th century when the oak was felled, and the Martvili-Chkondidi Cathedral was erected following Georgia's adoption of Christianity. Subsequently, in the 10th century, King Giorgi II rebuilt the structure into the current Martvili Monastery. The author, who has a deep interest in sacred spaces and the history of Paganism, muses on the nature of worship and the righteousness of various religious

The Martvili Monastery, once a site of Pagan worship

The other day I braved the 100-degree heat and walked 1km uphill to visit one of the oldest sacred spaces in Martvili, the Martvili Monastery.

It is located on top of the highest hill in Martvili, where a Great Oak Tree once stood. It was the site of Pagan rituals, associated with fertility and prosperity, and a sacrificial site of infants to their idol, the (Chkondidi) big oak.

However, in the 7th century, The Marvili-Chkondidi Cathedral was built, and the oak tree was cut down when Georgia adopted Christianity. The Cathedral stood until the 10th century when King Giorgi II rebuilt the Cathedral into what now stands, The Martvili Monastery.

I am obsessed with visiting monasteries and sacred spaces in Georgia and worldwide. The history of Paganism fascinates me how and what they believed in, such as an oak tree.

I also went to a holy site in Ushguli where they worshipped the moon, also making human sacrifices.

Ushguli site of worship, where they once worshiped the moon

Yet it makes me wonder, why does it matter what we worship?

I do not think to be a good person, you have to follow one way, whether it is monotheism or polytheism; how do we know which is right? We don’t really until we die.

We can only believe and have faith in what we feel is the right way for us; it can be nothing or the entire wheelhouse of religions.

Maybe I worship the moon; who made the moon?

Maybe I worship the big oak tree; who made the oak tree?

I can also say that modern-day Christianity and religion, in general, have ruined many parts of the world, destroying cultures to implement one that was forced upon them. I have seen it in tiny villages in the jungle where they once worshiped their gods, and then a missionary comes in and tells them there is only one way, their way.

Is this right?

Maybe this is why I am so fascinated with Paganism; I am unsure if they went around to other villages telling people you must follow my religion, give me your baby to sacrifice; who knows?

I know that many so-called religious people did kill women and accused them of witchcraft because they had skills that maybe the man of the town did not have. Doctors used to be women, healers, those who bring life into this world; they healed the sick, no matter who they were.

Yet the village turned against them when an illness struck someone in power. The woman healer did not follow and refused to be forced into something she did not believe.

This is history.

I was raised Christian; I think that with any religion, you take what works for you. Yet if you ask me to go to church with you, I will not.

I will sit in the woods under a big tree and feel more connected to that, which made me what I do sitting in a stifling church that is there because a missionary came and told the people the way they worship is wrong, they must adapt mine or I will call you a heathen and probably kill you.

I made that part up, as I obviously was not alive then.

Religions such as Paganism are fascinating to see how they started. I personally do not care what religion you follow or if you follow one at all, I care if you are a good human.

As I dabble in what many call the dark arts and occultism, I also heal in ways that can not be explained. Luckily, the world is now more accepting.

Still, anyone who dabbles in the word of magic, mysticism, and occultism will always wonder, will there be another uprising against those of us who can not be understood?

Anyway, I was thinking this as I sat on the top of the hill looking at the monastery and thought about how many are slaughtered in the name of religion, any religion.

XOXO

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