In the 1770s Queen Darejan, wife of Erekle II, built a palace and court church on the ruins of the old fortress in Avlabari. The palace was called "Darejan's Palace" (Sachino). After Queen Darejan was exiled to St. Petersburg, Exarch Theophylact set up a theological seminary and parish schools here. In 1824 Metropolitan Iona consecrated the church in the name of the Transfiguration of the Savior and founded a monastery. In 1991 the church passed to the Georgian Patriarchate and a convent was established.