The cathedral's name is derived from the Georgian words where sveti means "pillar" and tskhoveli means "life-giving" or "living."
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is considered one of the four Great Cathedrals of the Georgian Orthodox world, and its history dates back to the early 4th century. Within the cathedral, a holy site believed to be the burial place of Christ's mantle is preserved. Furthermore, the construction of the cathedral involved miraculous elements, and a sacred liquid said to issue from a cedar pillar is believed to cure diseases. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral has been damaged many times by earthquakes and historical invasions, but it has been restored on each occasion.