Sioni of Urbnisi (Region of Shida Kartli)
Sioni of Urbnisi (Georgian: ურბნისის სიონი) – Urbnisi Cathedral of St. Stephen belongs to a group of Georgian basilicas of the early feudal era. The church is located in the eastern part of the extinct city of Urbnisi – one of the oldest cities of Georgia, which arose in the late Stone Age. Several inscriptions have been preserved on the building of the basilica, the oldest of which is an inscription on the northern wall, dating back to the V -VI centuries, which mentions the builder of the temple. Urbnisi Cathedral is a three-nave basilica and is one of the largest Georgian basilicas of the early Middle Ages. Along the entire length of the temple on all three sides there were buildings of different periods, the exact contours and purpose of which cannot be determined today. The eastern and western facades are decorated with large brick crosses.
Today, it is almost impossible to restore the original artistic appearance of the temple. Apparently, most of the hewn stone cladding dates back to the restoration period of the IX –X centuries, and the brick part to the late Middle Ages. Despite numerous reconstructions, it is obvious that the original appearance of the Urbnisi Basilica was conceived as austere, monumental and impressive, and today it makes the same impression. According to legend, when St. Nino arrived in Georgia to preach Christianity, she spent a month in Urbnisi, and from there went to Mtskheta. At the turn of the XI and XII centuries, Urbnisi was a leading episcopal see. It is possible that in 1103, it was here that the historic Church Council of Ruis-Urbnisi, convened by the Great King David the Builder, took place.
Urbnisi village (Georgian: სოფელი ურბნისი), Kareli Municipality (Georgian: ქარელის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
