A three nave basilica stands in the centre of Zeda Tmogvi village in Aspindza Municipality and is listed in the national category. The building is laid of grey hewn stone and still serves as a chapel.
The history of the building can be read straight from its walls. A small church stood on this spot in the 8th century, and in the second quarter of the 11th its remains were put to work: they became the north wall of the new basilica. Such continuity turns up in Georgian churches but is rarely so clearly visible.
An inscription on the church names the builders one by one: Queen Mariam, Prince Bagrat, the future king Bagrat IV, and Parsman Eristavtaristavi. For a village church this is an exceptional case: names of that rank usually appear in the inscriptions of major monasteries.
💡 Tip
- Remains of an 8th century church became the north wall of the basilica
- The builders are named one by one in the inscription
- Among them Queen Mariam and the future king Bagrat IV
🚗 Getting there
- Zeda Tmogvi village, Aspindza Municipality, Samtskhe Javakheti
- The Build Route button will take you to the spot
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