N51, D. Tavdadebuli str. / N27, S. Zubalashvili str., Batumi
The former catholic church of Batumi was built in 1898-1902 at the initiative of Priest Anselm Mgebrishvili and by virtue of a famous Georgian oil entrepreneur and Maecenas – Stephan Zubalashvili. Approximately 250000 Manets were spent on the construction of this building. The Bishop of Tiraspol - Eduard Baron von der Ropp was specially invited for the consecration of the church in 1903. Neo-Gothic style aisleless church is built with white stone and decorative elements - with red stone. The church has a tower on the crossing of the nave and transept and two bigger towers to the west side. The building facades are adorned with sculptures of saints, and the interior – with paintings (the scenes reflecting the Old and New Testaments). The function of the church was changed in the Soviet Union period. There were the archive and high-voltage laboratory at different times. The building has passed into the ownership of the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1989 by the decision of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. Currently, it is the Holy Mother Virgin Nativity Cathedral of Batumi.
The church is one of the prominent buildings of this period and a good example of Neo-Gothic architecture.
