On November 12, near the Metekhi bridge was held the consecration ceremony of the small church of the 100 00 martyrs. On November 13, the whole of Georgia will be celebrating the Memorial Day of 100 000 martyrs. The story about how 100 000 ordinary citizens of Georgia become the saints begins in 1226 year when, after taking the Dvina and Garnisi Jalaleddin entered Tbilisi. Here begins the great tragedy of a small country. Jalaleddin’s revenge on Tbilisi citizens was cruel. The Sultan took off the dome from the Zion church and ordered to put his throne instead of the dome. Conqueror decided to draw Georgians to Islam. By his order, from the Zion Cathedral were carried out the icons of the Mother of Our Lady and Our Lord Jesus Christ and they were put on the Metekhi bridge. After that Jalaleddin ordered to Georgians to walk upon the icons and to leave their faith. On that day 100 000 people suffered for their faith and the Kura River was drowned in blood. Today that historical bridge no longer exists. In 1951 year there was built a new bridge at that place, but when the water in the Kura River drops down there are still visible the pillars of the old bridge.

The church which was consecrated on November 12 was built on the pillars of the bridge where 100 000 people lost their lives for their faith. A small church can accommodate only a few people, but the significance of this church is huge. Upon the blessing from the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, the Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, and the Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, on the memorial day of 100 000 martyrs, near the Metekhi bridge a lot of people participates in the memorial ceremonies and suits the procession.