According to Georgian chronicles, the [[Apostle Andrew|St Andrew the First-called]] entered Georgia through Adjaria. The first [[church]]es were erected here in villages near the Black Sea. Adjaria had its own [[hierarch]] even in the fourth century, under the reign of King Mirdat III. Later, during the reign of [[King VakhtangI Gorgasali of Iberia|St . King Vakhtang Gorgasali]] (remembered [[November 30]]), the diocese of Skhalta (i.e. Adjaria) was united into the diocese of Akhizi.