St George Monastery Complex in Teleti: History

If you're wondering what to see in Georgia, head to the Kvemo Kartli region, to the village of Zemo Teleti in the Gardabani municipality. The St. George Monastery Complex is located there.

History

The complex is considered a 19th-century monument, but Vakhushti Batonishvili, who lived in the 18th century, wrote about a church located on the same site. Therefore, it is believed that the monument was built on the site of an older structure.

The Church of St. George has been under the jurisdiction of the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1992, but for a time it was appropriated by the Armenian Monophysite Church.

The monastery complex, also founded in 1992, includes the Church of St. George, a four-story bell tower, cells, and enclosures, built slightly later than the church and bell tower.

Architecture

Georgia's landmarks are unique in their own way. The main distinguishing feature of the St. George Monastery Complex in Teleti is its departure from the traditional three-aisled basilica.

All three naves are located under a single roof, and the external masses do not determine the internal space. The church is entered from two sides—the south and west—framed by a roller frame with relief crosses at the top.

The church does not boast any exquisite paintings. The facades are gray, constructed of cut stone, with stones of varying colors interspersed in the frontal area. The western frontal facade is adorned with a relief image of St. George. Apart from this, there are no other decorative elements.

The facades have no cornice, and the roof rests directly on the walls. Inside, the church walls are completely painted. On the second floor of the bell tower, located to the east of the church, are the Church of St. Nino and the Church of the Baptism of John the Baptist. The fourth floor of the bell tower resembles a gazebo, the columns of which are very simply decorated, while the third floor is open on all sides with arches.

The bell tower itself is constructed of various types of stone and brick.

The St. George Monastery Complex in Teleti is hardly the most beautiful place in Georgia, as it lacks elegant forms and rich decoration. However, its simplicity is precisely what makes it so appealing, making it worth visiting the village of Teleti at least once and admiring the views of the vast expanses surrounding the monastery.

Photo source: naafone.ru