Samtavisi Cathedral (Region of Shida Kartli)
Samtavisi Cathedral (Georgian: სამთავისის ტაძარი ) – The medieval Georgian Orthodox cross-domed church. It is a fine example of Georgian classical architecture. The very first church on this site was built in the 5th century during the reign of Vakhtang Gorgasli, but nothing remains of it. Later, another basilica stood here, the remains of which were discovered during excavations. In the middle of the 6th century, one of the 13 Assyrian Fathers, Isidore Samtavaneli (Georgian: ისიდორე სამთავნელი), who came from Antioch to Georgia to preach Christianity, founded a monastery here. The monastery became a significant spiritual center of the region. In the cathedral, you can see frescoes depicting the life of Father Isidore Samtavaneli. The relics of the holy father are kept in the monastery.
During its existence, the temple was rebuilt several times. In the 16th century, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out due to the collapse of the dome. Today, the monastery complex includes a domed cathedral of the 11th century, an early medieval three-aisled basilica, a small church, a bell tower, a bishop’s residence and a rampart. The temple is the first cathedral in Georgia to use a decor rich in ornament: a composition of a large ornamented cross, a carved platband of the main window and ornamented squares under it. The monument is distinguished by harmonious proportions and virtuoso decor. The treatment of the eastern facade, still based on the five-arch system, creates a complex decorative composition. The architecture of the temple is characterized by some features that became the basis for the further development of Georgian architecture.
Samtavisi village (Georgian: სოფელი სამთავისი), Kaspi Municipality (Georgian: კასპის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
