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Timotesubani Monastery Timotesubani Monastery is an architectural masterpiece from the golden age of Georgia. The main church of the monastery, built during the reign of Queen Tamara, is decorated with beautiful frescoes, which have been included in the Georgian Heritage List due to their vividness and complexity. Monastery complex 1. Cross-domed church dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Cross-domed church dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Height: 28 m, width: 11 m, length: 19 m. The main church of the monastery is a 13th century cross-domed church dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Later, a sandstone ashlar portal and another brick western portal were added to the south. The church has a cross-shaped floor plan with a central square and three apses on the east side. Pink bricks were used for the construction of the church and, as is often the case with brick churches, the main church of Timotesubani has very little ornamentation on the external facades. Frescoes by Timotesubani The entire main church of the monastery was frescoed between 1205 and 1215. Much of it is still clearly visible today. Almost the entire Bible is depicted in pictures on the walls of the church. On the eastern side are frescoes of 32 scenes from the New Testament, as well as depictions of the twelve major festivals of the Christian year (Dodecaorton). On the north side are frescoes depicting episodes from the Old Testament. The frescoes are not randomly scattered around the church, but are clearly arranged chronologically according to the biblical events. The frescoes were first carefully cleaned and conserved in 1972-1976 under the direction of Mrs Priwalowa. Further cleaning and conservation work was carried out between 2000 and 2006 under the direction of Mrs Dvalishvili. This painstaking work to preserve the fresco of Timotesubani was awarded the Europa Nostra Prize. Unfortunately, the name of the painter of Timotesubani is not known, but the frescoes of the main church are among the most elaborate in Georgian ecclesiastical art. Single-nave Basilica To the north of the main church is a small single-aisle basilica dating from the 11th-12th centuries. The church is built in the typical Georgian style, with stones of different sizes anchored together to give the building extra strength. In the western facade of the church there is a building stone with the inscription: "Jesus bless the soul of the Grand Duke Shalva". This person refers to the prince and general of Queen Tamara, Shalva Akhaltsikheli. He is also considered the founder of the church of Timotesubani. The interior of the small church has recently been frescoed with scenes from the Nine Testaments and historical figures, especially from the time of Queen Tamara. The 18th century entrance gate The entrance gate to the monastery is built of brick in the Persian style and stands about 20 metres south of the main church. The monastery today The monastery was reconsecrated in 1994 and several monks have been living there ever since. A new monastery with a church, refectory and monks' cells is being built near the Timotesubani monastery. Various workshops and a bakery will be built in the new monastery for the monks and their apprentices to work in. Location The Timotesubani Monastery is located in the village of the same name, about 17 km from the spa town of Borjomi, at an altitude of 1100 metres. |
