Atashgah of Tbilisi
The Atashgah (Georgian: ათეშგა) is an ancient Zoroastrian temple in Tbilisi, Georgia. It is located around 100 meters east of the Holy Mother of God Church of Bethlehem, on the Old Town slopes northeast of the Mother Georgia statue. It is an ancient brick building with a protective curved perspex roof.
The Atashgah has been preserved because it has been discreetly camouflaged in the city. There is little information as to when it was built, but some historians refer to it as having been built in the Sassanian era. During the wars between Iranian and Turkish Muslims, Tbilisi fell into Turkish hands and the church was temporarily turned in to a mosque. Lately some Turks have tried to restore the Atashgah into an active mosque. The Government of Georgia agreed, on the condition that the mosque would not be active. The parties did not agree and this is where we entered the Arena. On 16 September 2013 the Zonouzi family entered the church, with the agreement of the keeper of the Atashgah. The Fire of Ahura Mazda (Armazi in Georgian) was set alight, with prayers, and Zoroastrian ceremonies were held.
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Coordinates: 41°41′20″N 44°48′20″E / 41.68885°N 44.80559°E