Tsugrugasheni, Kvemo Kartli, Georgia

In the small village of Kvemo Kartli, on the slope of a mountain, as if drowned in historical splendor, stands the Tsugrugasheni Monastery. This majestic domed temple, decorated with architectural delights of the 13th century, invites travelers to an encounter with the past.

The inscriptions immortalized on the walls of the temple tell about the great times of the reign of King George and the master Hassan Arsen, whose hands created this wonderful monument. According to researchers, the mentioned King George is George Lasha, who reigned from 1212 to 1222, when this shrine was erected.

However, it is not only historical documents that make this monastery unique. Hidden in the southern wall of the church, a niche known as a hiding place becomes an object of attention for the curious. Its narrow walls, made so that only a hand could fit in them, contain something more mysterious - a stone with the image of the Bolnisi cross and a Georgian inscription, as if evidence of centuries-old secrets and mysterious events.

The legend associated with this place reveals the atmosphere of confrontation between different ethnic groups in the past. According to it, only the Georgian community knew about the existence of this cache and stone, which indicates a long time of struggle and appropriation of church lands.

The Tsugrugasheni Monastery is not just a historical landmark, but also a place where every stone and every inscription comes to life with its own stories. Travelers are given a unique opportunity to plunge into the past, reveal the secrets of times and feel the spirit of the greatness of Georgian culture.