The Palace of Rituals in Tbilisi, designed by Victor Jordenadze and completed in 1984, stands as a bold and controversial example of late Soviet architecture. Originally conceived as a secular alternative to traditional church weddings, the building incorporates elements of both religious and modernist design in a striking and sometimes provocative manner. Jordenadze’s design draws on diverse influences, including 1920s expressionism, mediaeval Georgian church architecture, and even human anatomy. The building’s floor plan is said to resemble a cross-section of the female reproductive system, with the entrance symbolising a vagina and side chapels representing ovaries. From a distance, its silhouette against Tbilisi’s skyline has been likened to male genitalia, adding to its notoriety.

Despite initial objections from municipal authorities over its ecclesiastical elements, the project was defended by the President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze and completed in 1984. The structure features frescoes, a bell tower, and soaring interior spaces reminiscent of traditional churches, all executed in stone similar to that used in Georgia’s mediaeval religious buildings.

The Palace of Rituals quickly became a landmark, hosting both local weddings and visiting dignitaries. Notable guests included Margaret Thatcher, who attended a Georgian dance performance there in 1987, and Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan, who renewed his vows at the venue in 1990. In 2002, the building was purchased by the oligarch Badri Patarkatsishvili. He intended it to be his personal residence. He died suddenly in February 2008 without a will, sparking one of the largest estate battles in history. Ten years later, the government of Georgia officially accused former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, of ordering Patarkatsishvili’s assassination.