Samtavro monastery in Mtskheta in autumn A censer with incense in a church An icon of St Gabriel with a wooden case on a table

Consecrated
at the relics of saints.
With a prayer for you.

Icons from monastery workshops and silver crosses blessed on relics, pilgrimages from Tallinn, prayer notes for the living and the departed, and help for those who need it. The Andcross centre, since 1999.

Andija sections

Shop

Icons, crosses, rings, books and candles. Every item states where it was consecrated.

View the catalogue →

Pilgrimage

Trips to the monasteries of Georgia and Estonia. Small groups, a programme by day.

Upcoming trips →

Holy places

Monasteries, shrines and relics we travel to ourselves. History, our photos, prayer notes.

All places →

NIKA association

Targeted help for those who are struggling: the elderly, the ill, the less mobile. Whom we help and how to support us.

About the help →

ABOUT THE CENTRE

The Andcross centre. Tallinn, since 1999

The pilgrimage and spiritual education centre was founded with the blessing of His Eminence Cornelius, Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia. Since November 2000 we have taken pilgrims from Estonia to Orthodox shrines.

We travel ourselves to the shrines we tell you about. The shop items are consecrated there and the prayer notes are delivered there. The shop, trips and prayer notes are run by the NIKA association, which helps those in need from its own funds.

years of work
27
pilgrims
1000+

The centre is part of the Andcross
structures, EST. 1999

About the Andcross centre
Our pilgrimage group with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem at the Jerusalem Patriarchate

HOW IT WORKS

Why people choose Andija

Everything on the site is linked to a specific shrine. An item, a trip and a prayer note lead to the same place.

Consecrated at a specific shrine

The card says where the item was consecrated: on particles of the relics of St George the Victorious, at the relics of St Gabriel in Samtavro, in the monastery where it was made. With a link to the page of the place.

We have been there

The photos of the holy places were taken on our trips. A schedule for the year, accompaniment from Tallinn, small groups.

The prayer note reaches the place

Prayer notes are taken to Georgia, to the relics of St Gabriel in Samtavro and to the Monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Borjomi. After payment you receive a confirmation email, and the history of your notes is kept in your account.

Monastery work

Icons from the workshops of the Pskov-Caves and Danilov monasteries with workshop certificates.

Worldwide delivery

From Tallinn by registered mail with a tracking number: 14 € to Europe, 17 € to other countries. UPS express on request.

Help for those who are struggling

The site is run by the NIKA association. The association buys food parcels and essentials for elderly, ill and less mobile people and delivers them from its own funds.

PILGRIMAGE

Upcoming trips

Small groups, accompanied from Tallinn, the programme by day is known in advance. Write through the form on the trip page: the coordinator will answer your questions and tell you the price and terms.

Pilgrims of our group at the church entrance, the nuns greet them at the doors
Georgia. Samtavro, Mtskheta, BodbeA trip to the relics of St Gabriel. 12 days, from Tallinn via Tbilisi.

17 October

Georgia: Samtavro, Mtskheta, Bodbe

The second group of the autumn. Samtavro, Svetitskhoveli, Bodbe monastery, Tbilisi.

12 days No places

TESTIMONIES

God's help through the prayers of the saints

People share how the Lord helped them in illness, in sorrow and in everyday life. We give thanks to God together with them and pray for the names they send.

Two Brothers and One Hope

In 2009, my son Nikolai suffered a serious leg injury. The pain was so severe that he could no longer walk without assistance. Despite his condition, Nikolai asked to be taken to Samtavro Monastery so that he could pray…

Tbilisi, 2010

Through the prayers of St Gabriel of Samtavro (Urgebadze)

“Blessed Are Those Who Believe in God…”

In 2010, our family endured a severe trial. My grandson Giorgi became seriously ill with meningitis. His condition was so grave that the doctors feared for his life. During those days of profound sorrow, the Lord granted…

Tbilisi, 2010

Through the prayers of St Gabriel of Samtavro (Urgebadze)

Maria’s First Word

I established my family with the blessing of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze. The Lord gave us four children. However, our youngest daughter Maria was born with a developmental condition. Until the age of three, she could not sp…

Tsnori, Georgia

Through the prayers of St Gabriel of Samtavro (Urgebadze)

TO THE RELICS OF ST GABRIEL

Prayer notes for the living and the departed

The names are taken to Georgia: to the relics of St Gabriel in Samtavro monastery and to the Monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, where they are commemorated at the divine service. A prayer note with up to five names is submitted for a donation.

  1. Choose the type of note and enter up to five names.
  2. Make a donation and you will receive a confirmation email.
  3. We hand the prayer note to the monastery ourselves: in person on our nearest trip or, if no trip is coming soon, by email within 1–2 days. The history is kept in your account.

Donation

Who is commemorated and how the delivery works is described on the page “Prayer notes terms”.

REVIEWS

What pilgrims and customers say

Reviews with dates, after every trip and for orders. You can leave your own in your personal account.

Victor This was my 3rd pilgrim trip organized by Andcross https://www.andcross.ee in 7 years.

This was my 3rd pilgrim trip organized by Andcross https://www.andcross.ee in 7 years. I’ve been to the local holy sites, but this year, I decided to make a long journey to the Valaam Monastery. The entire group was well prepared by the organizers: starting with the prayers we need to read and ending with the weather forecast and recommendations on what clothes to put on. There was a priest with us on that trip. We talked a lot about the places we are going to and about Orthodoxy in general. The priest was a very educated and down-to-earth person. We also watched a video about the monastery. So, not a single second was wasted on the road. When we arrived at our destination, we already knew a lot. Valaam simply stunned me with its energy. You can feel an incredible power there. It’s hard to describe this but it needs to be felt. During our visit, we saw every corner of the monastery, attended the services, and had a chance to confess and talk with the monks. The people there are strong, as is the place itself. There are many miraculous shrines in the monastery. When standing in front of them, I asked the Lord to help me deal with my problems and the hardships of my loved ones. I think that’s what most pilgrims come for – to ask for God’s mercy. Now I regret that I haven’t visited this holy site earlier and I intend to come back. Victor –

Pilgrimage

Rating 5 out of 5

Beautiful cross, thank you, I am delighted with my purchase.

Order on Etsy, March 2026

Julia I’ve recently visited the Pyukhtitsky Assumption Monastery and I want to tell you about.

I’ve recently visited the Pyukhtitsky Assumption Monastery and I want to tell you about it. The trip was organized by the Andcross Spiritual and Ecclesiastic center https://www.andcross.ee It was a tour with a group of strangers. Before the trip, everyone got instructions on what and how to do, what to take for this trip, and how to tune in. Some people weren’t new to such things, but for me, this information was very valuable. On the way, we were also instructed, listened to chants, and watched a religious video. The mood they created was right and relevant. The monastery is also famous because John of Kronstadt visited it many times and took care of it. The Icon of the Assumption of Mother of God can be seen there. The monastery has given it to John of Kronstadt, and then he returned the icon to the monastery. I kissed this icon and prayed fervently in front of it. I bathed in the holy spring. It’s known for its countless miracles. They say that the blind were able to see again and the paralyzed began to walk after bathing in it. We just need to believe in Our Lord and His help, and everything will be possible. I can’t say that the trip helped me to get rid of any physical illness but I felt so much easier when I came back home. The recent heaviness was gone, instead there appeared some kind of enlightenment. If someone doubts whether to go to the Pyukhtitsky monastery, I will say that it’s a must. Go there with pure thoughts and good intentions. Thank the Almighty and the saints, and the healing will come. Julia –

Pilgrimage

Rating 5 out of 5

Great looking item, good quality, delivery pretty fast in Europe.

Order on Etsy, March 2026

Ludmila For the first time in my life, I decided to go on a pilgrim trip. Ludmila

For the first time in my life, I decided to go on a pilgrim trip. I’ve got a lot to carry on my shoulders in the last couple of years. Problems with my property, my health, and my money. These difficulties were like an avalanche. And gradually, I began to realize that praying in the church was not enough for me and I had to visit holy sites and ask for the Lord’s mercy there. I found the website of the Andcross pilgrim center https://www.andcross.ee on the Internet. They offer many different trips. So I chose to go to the Pyukhtitsky Monastery. I’ve heard about it before, but, sadly, had no idea what it was famous for It turned out it’s known for numerous cases of salvation and healing. The famous John of Kronstadt was connected with that monastery. The monastery has тhere’s also a miraculous Icon of the Mother of God. The spring named after the Mother of God helped the disabled, deaf, and blind people. They were again able to walk, hear, and speak. All this became a revelation for me! I prayed and kissed the icon. I bathed in the holy spring, although I’ve always been afraid of entering cold water. I didn’t need to sit during the service, although I used to sit down quite often because of my joints. But this time, everything was easy for me. After this trip, I felt like something new appeared inside me, something has been discovered. Something bright, light, and kind. I want to thank everyone who helped me and my fellow travelers during this trip! Ludmila –

Pilgrimage

Rating 5 out of 5

A very beautiful icon... So alive... in the house... thank you so much for it... Most Holy Mary, pray for us all..

Order on Etsy, February 2026

CONSECRATION, QUALITY, HELP

What stands behind every item

  1. Icons come from the workshops of the Pskov-Caves and Danilov monasteries with workshop certificates. The silver is consecrated on particles of the relics of St George the Victorious. The items of the St Gabriel series are consecrated in Samtavro monastery, and there is a letter from the monastery. All of this is shown on the page “Consecration of items”.
  2. The place of consecration is stated in every card.
  3. The shop is run by the NIKA association. It helps those in need from its own funds.
  4. Returns within 14 days under EU rules.
The certificate of the Pskov-Caves monastery workshop on an icon
Certificate of the Pskov-Caves monastery

FROM OUR EXPERIENCE

Articles and useful materials

All articles