Vachnadziani Monastery Complex: All Saints Church

Georgia's most beautiful places boast not only stunning landscapes but also various architectural and cultural monuments and structures.

For example, in Kakheti's Gurdjaani Municipality, eight kilometers from the village of Vachnadziani, lies the Vachnadziani Monastery Complex, which includes the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of Vachnadziani (the Church of the Virgin Mary), the three-church basilica of St. George, and the remains of monastic buildings.

Church of the Virgin Mary of Vachnadziani

This structure is one of the most important monuments of its era, belonging to the transitional period. It is considered to date back to the 8th-9th centuries. The artistic interests and traditions of that era, as well as the desire for innovation, are reflected in the church's composition, architectural design, and decoration, making it a fascinating place to see during a visit to Georgia.

Church Architecture

Inside the Most Pure Vachnadziani is a domed hall (kupelhale). A dome, erected in the center of the apse-shaped nave, rests on the wall. An entrance surrounds the nave outside. The patronal chamber is located at the head of the side nave. The square above which the dome rises is surrounded by arches on all sides. These, in turn, rest on crowned pilasters. The subdome square extends onto the throat of the dome itself like a pendentive. The throat of the dome is cylindrical. Four windows open from it, located in the western and southern walls, on the upper part. Three more windows are located near the altar apse. All window openings have horseshoe-shaped ends.

The walls of the church are constructed of cobblestone and brick, with hewn stone (screen) used to construct the corners and openings. A distinctive feature of the church façade is the flat apse. A three-stage cornice extends over the projections of the altar and under the roof of the northern arm. A single-stage cornice has been preserved on the projections of the triconch and on some corners of the western side.

The walls of the church were painted in the 16th century. The images belong to the Gareja school. In addition, remains of pictorial art have been observed on the southern and western walls of the building.

The church's vestibule was incorporated into the fence that surrounded the church.

Church of St. George in Vachnadziani

The Church of St. George is located approximately fifty meters from the main cathedral.

The building is a three-church basilica dating from the 6th-7th centuries. The forged apse is the end of the main nave. Rectangular receptacles lie on either side of the apse. Cobblestones and bricks were used as the building material for the church, while the corners and structural elements were made of yellowed hewn screen. A cobblestone branch is attached to the eastern side of the church. A vaulted crypt is located beneath it.

There is a vaulted crypt beneath the building, so the floor of the southern church is slightly higher than the floor of the main nave.

The church itself consists of two independent parts. Three windows are located on the building's façade, and another rectangular window is located next to the altar.

The Church of St. George is almost completely destroyed; the building is severely damaged; only its eastern part remains in good condition.

Georgia's landmarks are the country's history, the embodiment of its traditions and values. Preserving historical, cultural, and architectural monuments is the most important task of all humanity.

Photo source: about.ge

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