Remains of two Georgian tzars to be transported from Russia to Georgia

The reburial of two great Georgian tzars, Vakhtang VI and Teimuraz II of the Bagrationi dynasty /Bagratids/, currently buried in the Russian city of Astrakhan in the delta of the Volga river, is being discussed by Russia and Georgia.

The remains of the tzars are planned to be transported to a new Sameba /Saint Trinity/ cathedral, which is under construction in Tbilisi, the Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze was quoted as saying in an interview with the National Radio.

According to Shevardnadze, the idea of the reburial was approved by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis II, who sent a special address to the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, Elias II.

The construction of the new cathedral complex in Tbilisi will be finished in several years, though it is planned that several temples will be opened already this year, the Georgian President stated.

Vakhtang VI /1675-1737/ spent the last two years of his life in Astrakhan, where he later died and was buried in the Church of Assumption.

Teimuraz II /1700-1762/ died in St. Petersburg and was also buried in the Astrakhan cathedral, because his remains could not be transported to Georgia. Both Vakhtang VI and Teimuraz II had bequeathed to be buried in Georgia.