Goubani "Ormotsni", an ancient church complex of Georgia, Kvemo Kartli, church according to the Kouppelhalle canons

Architecture

The church was built according to all the canons of the Kuppelhalle. This type of church differs in the structure of the building's supports: here the supports are wall projections, not columns or pedestals. There are about 20 more examples of this type of churches in Georgia.

There is a semicircular apse at the altar and on both sides it has rectangularly placed images of pastors. Inside, the throne is attached to the altar, with exits on both sides. The dome, which crowns the top of the church, rests on a pedestal, the corners of the altar and the projections of the longitudinal walls. The church has two entrances: one goes through the gate of the adjacent bell tower and the other exits to the west side of the building.

The central part of the temple ensemble spreads out into two arms, with windows illuminating the room from the west and north. The sunlight also comes from under the dome windows; there are 8 of them, spread across the entire circumference of the vault. The external facades of the church are sparingly decorated, the most interesting, from the architectural point of view, composition is located inside the building.

The interior of the wall is decorated with moldings depicting saints and religious paintings from the Holy Scriptures. Beneath the dome, as if framing the walls, are arches, some of them resembling a lancet. Because of its venerable age, the church has been restored frequently; during the restoration work, the roof was restored from one of the walls of the building over the western facade, the slopes of which are stitched together to form a gable planking.

Originally, the entire composition was a central element in the form of a church. Afterwards there were additions to the main building, towers and a bell tower. The annexes on the west and north sides are now impossible to see, they have become ruins. A massive stone tower was built to the south of the church.

The unusual architecture, dense green forest and the rich history of this place, explain why travelers rank Goubani "Ormotsni" among the most beautiful places in Georgia.

How to get there?

Getting to the church is very easy. If you have a private or rented car, you can drive 6 km to the side of the highway Tbilisi-Tetritskaro, there is a bulk road from the village of Goutbani just to the temple.