Kvatakhevi Monastery (Region of Shida Kartli)
Kvatakhevi Monastery Complex (Georgian: ქვათახევის მონასტერი). The monastery belongs to the typical architectural style of the Middle Ages. The temple attracts attention with its harmonious proportions and high skillful decoration. It belongs to a group of monuments in which the canonical forms of the Georgian domed church were finally developed. The monastery was founded at the end of the 5th century and restored in the 12th century by the Georgian king David IV the Builder. According to legend, a small part of the robe of the Mother of God is laid in the foundation of the temple. The name of the monastery in translation from Georgian means “stone gorge”, which recalls the location of the monastery.
For some time, the Kvatakhevi Monastery was famous as the main religious building in Kartli. People entered the temple barefoot or only in special shoes. During the reign of conquered Georgia, even Turks and Iranians wishing to enter the temple obeyed this established rule. The monastery was severely damaged during Tamerlane’s raids. Then, 300 people were burned alive in the main building, including monks and laymen. On the stone floor, under the carpets, there are traces of human bones burned from melted fat. All those who were burned were canonized as the Kvatakhevi martyrs. The monastery houses a miraculous icon and the relics of John the Baptist. The monastery was a literary center where manuscripts were written and copied. Several manuscripts from the Kvatakhevi library have survived to this day.
Tsinarekhi village (Georgian: სოფელი წინარეხი), Kaspi Municipality (Georgian: კასპის მუნიციპალიტეტი)