Monastery of Tsamebuli (David Gareja)
Monastery of Tsamebuli(«Martyrs») (Georg. გარეჯის წამებულის მონასტერი). The ancient cave monastery, carved into the rock, where the bones of the martyr monks are kept. One of the cave complexes of the David Gareja monasteries, dates back to the 6th-13th centuries. The hard-to-reach, three-tier complex is carved on the crest of a 300-meter mountain. To date, 12 caves have been preserved, including four temples, a tomb and cells of monks, caves for various functional purposes.
All cave churches are of the hall type and traces of frescoes are visible. Relatively better painting has been preserved in only one temple – in the «Khariton Cauldron», which must date back to the 10th-11th centuries. On the north side of the main temple, a wall 130-140 cm high gives the impression of a sarcophagus – the bones of the martyr monks are stacked in it. Noteworthy is another cave hall, which was supposed to become a refectory. It is distinguished by its special scale, since cauldrons of this size are rarely found in the David Gareja monastic complexes.
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