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Kvatakhevi Monastery Kvatakhevi, also spelled Kvabtakhevi, was for a long time the main monastery in the Kartli region and the literary centre of eastern Georgia. Several books were written here in the Middle Ages, and many manuscripts were translated from Greek into Georgian. Most of these can now be seen in the State Historical Museum of Moscow. Today, the monastery impresses visitors with its picturesque location in the Lesser Caucasus, as well as the elaborately decorated facade of the main church and the varied architecture of the building complex. The name Kvata-Khevi means Stony Gorge, the second name Kvabta-Khevi means Gorge of the Pot, and indeed the area around the monastery is shaped like a pot, and there are also an unusual number of stones here. Monastery complex Main church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Main church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary - 12th-13th century. Architecture Architecturally, the main church of Kwatachewi is a cross-domed church with a square plan. The dome rests on two free-standing columns and two other columns connected to the altar. Inside, the dome is above the intersection of the arms of the rectangular cross. The building has two portals, one to the south and one to the west. The western portal was added in the 17th century. Architecturally and with its elaborate facade decoration, the main church of Kwatachewi resembles the churches of Betania, Pitareti and Timotesubani. The interior of the church was also decorated with frescoes, but these were destroyed in a fire in the late 14th century. Things to know about Kvatakhevi The monastery of Kvatakhevi was founded as a nunnery during the reign of Queen Tamara and only became a monastery in the 15th century. Kvatakhevi has always had a special status in Georgia. Noblemen and members of the royal family often made personal donations to the church. A donation document from the 14th century by the son of Queen Tamara, Lasha-Giorgi, is still well preserved in the archives. Nevertheless, the fate of the Kvatakhevi monastery was not easy. The monastery was hit hardest in 1400, when the Central Asian conqueror Timur Lenk invaded Georgia. He imprisoned the faithful in the church and, when they refused to convert to Islam, had them all burned alive. The anniversary of this horrific event is celebrated on 10 April in the Georgian Church of the Apostles. In 1412 the Georgian King Alexander rebuilt the church and it has not been seriously damaged since. This tragic event was the reason why, from the 15th century, the church acquired a special status among believers. Until the 19th century, it was forbidden to enter the monastery grounds with shoes on, only barefoot or with special monastic shoes. This rule was observed not only by Orthodox pilgrims, but also by Persian and Turkish visitors. The monastery itself was very rich, as evidenced by the fact that in 1601 it paid a lot of money to free the Georgian King Symeon from Ottoman captivity. In 1611 the Georgian king Luarsab II was married in the church of Kvatakhevi. Makrine married the sister of the Georgian Grand Duke Giorgi Saakadze. In the 30s of the 18th century, raids from Dagestan were concentrated throughout the interior and the monastery suffered greatly. The last major renovation of the church was carried out in 1854 by Ivan Tarkhan-Mouravi, the grandson of King Irakli II. The monastery also housed a clerical school, where Archbishop Tarasi Kandelaki studied and later, in 1930, baptised the future Georgian Patriarch Ilia II. Soon after the Sovietisation of Georgia, the monastery was closed and only reopened in 1990. In 2002, work began on a thorough renovation of the monastery complex, including the restoration of the residential buildings, the refectory and other buildings, and the construction of the road leading to the monastery. Relics of the church - a piece of John the Baptist's bone is preserved in the church and, according to legend, a piece of the Virgin Mary's dress is found in the foundations of the church. The defensive wall - of the monastery (55.4 X 59.2 m) is built on a strong geographical relief and is from 2 to 6 metres high in some places. The two-storey tower - (5.5 X 8.2 m) stands to the south of the church and is integrated into the defensive wall. Both floors of the tower are used as living quarters for the monks. Bell tower - built in 1872. It is much lower than the church and has five arched openings of equal size. Refectory - (6.4 x 10.2 m) built of river stone, stands on the north-western side inside the defensive wall. The residential house and the cells for the monks - stand to the west of the defensive wall and were built in the 19th century. They have recently been thoroughly renovated. Where is the Kvatakhevi monastery? The Kvatachevi Monastery is located in the Shida Kartli region, 5 km from the village of Tsinarekhi, in the valley of the Kavtura River. |
