The period between
the 4th c. and the middle of the 7th c. is of great significance in the
development of Georgian culture from the viewpoint of formation of its national
form.
The latter had been best displayed in architecture. The very first churches in Georgia were built according to the design of Palestine basilicas. Example of this is an old church (second half of the 4th c.) in Nekresi Monastery, basilicas of Old Shuamta and Tskhrakari Monastery of Matani (5th c.). All of these churches are from eastern Georgia - historical province of Kakheti.
The latter had been best displayed in architecture. The very first churches in Georgia were built according to the design of Palestine basilicas. Example of this is an old church (second half of the 4th c.) in Nekresi Monastery, basilicas of Old Shuamta and Tskhrakari Monastery of Matani (5th c.). All of these churches are from eastern Georgia - historical province of Kakheti.
In the end of the fifth
century, in the epoch of political and cultural strengthening of the country,
during the reign of King Vakhtang Gorgasali the Georgian Church achieved
independence. The most important building of the period is a three-nave basilica
Bolnisi's Sioni (478-493). It is located in Kvemo Kartli - historical province
of Georgia. The naves outside are covered with a common double-pitched roof.
From the East, beside the apse wall there is a little chapel built in the 8th
c. The appearance of the church is simple and laconic. The walls are faced
with smoothly hewn, large tuff slabs of deep and intensive turquoise colour. In
this early period of the developing of Georgian architecture designers did not
set themselves the aim of artistic quality of the facades. They paid attention
mainly to solving of the interior design. Interior of Bolnisi's Sioni produces
imposing and monumental impression. Bolnisi is interesting
for its inscriptions - the oldest examples of Georgian writing on the territory
of Georgia that have been preserved fairly well. The eight-lined inscription is
on the East facade, above the altar window, around the image of the so-called
Bolnisi Cross. The main inscription mentioning exact data of the construction of
the basilica was above the North right entrance of the
temple.
Tower of Nekresy Monastery
Bolnisi's Sioni basilica, V c.
Anchiskhati basilica of the 6th c.
stands in the old part of Tbilisi. Its altar apse unlike Bolnisi's basilica
stands within the general rectangular plan of the church. Later on this had
become more characteristic rather than projecting alter apses. A carved relief
depicting a cross in a medallion on the West facade has survived from the
earliest part of the church.
Anchiskhati basilica, VI c.
From the middle of the 6th c. Georgian architects introduced a new type
of a church - three church basilicas, unknown outside Georgia. Naves of these
churches are separated not by means of pillars as usual, but by partition walls,
creating three separate churches.
This kind of basilica is in Nekresi Monastery, Kvemo Bolnisi, Dmanisi (Kvemo Kartli).
Though the most of the churches built in the 6th c. in Georgia were basilicas, simultaneously the theme of domed churches emerged and soon became very popular. Example of this is an old church in Shiomghvime Monastery ( 50s-60s of the 6th c.), some 40 km from Tbilisi. The church has three naves. The central square is covered with eight-angle dome.
This kind of basilica is in Nekresi Monastery, Kvemo Bolnisi, Dmanisi (Kvemo Kartli).
Though the most of the churches built in the 6th c. in Georgia were basilicas, simultaneously the theme of domed churches emerged and soon became very popular. Example of this is an old church in Shiomghvime Monastery ( 50s-60s of the 6th c.), some 40 km from Tbilisi. The church has three naves. The central square is covered with eight-angle dome.
Shiomghvime Monastery, VI c.
One of the most popular monuments
is Jvari Church (586/587-604) in Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia, 20 km
northwest of Tbilisi. It stands on a top of a hill as if grown out of it. The
name of the church - Jvari, that means the Cross in English, is associated with
the wood Cross that stood at the site since early 4th c. A small church with
crypt was built beside the Cross in the second half of the 6th c. Later
on, a larger church of Jvari was constructed around the cross. The building has
a cross-like plan. Eight-angle dome crowns the central cube of the church. The
facade is well thought-out. This attitude had become the characteristic feature
of Georgian Churches' design in difference from the Byzantine ones. In the
latter the main stress had always been made on rich interior. East and south
facades of the Jvari Church are decorated with bas-reliefs: sculptures of
noblemen, benefactors.
Jvari Church, VI c.
Tendency to create monuments as
inseparable pieces of nature was very strong in Georgians. A good example of
this is the above-mentioned Jvari Church. Another one can be found in the
picturesque Chiatura region 190 km northwest of Tbilisi. In the village of
Katski stands a marvelous natural creation - the Katskhi Column. The nearby
river has seperated this 40-meter high column from the main massif. At the top
of the Column is flat, rectangular ground, surrounded by defense wall. Remains
of a 5th c. church, built of the surrounding rocks, are seen in the northeast
corner of the plateau, and remains of a second church in the southeast corner.
The second church, which consists of a hall and a crypt, was built in the 6th c.
of huge square stones, somehow hauled up from the bottom. Several kvevri (large
pots buried in the earth to keep wine) were found on the plateau. A Cross, who
stylistically dates to the 4th or 5th c. is cut into the rock near the
bottom
Katskhi column
One more example concerns Gergeti
Church of Trinity built on a 2170-meter high mountain in the Kazbegi region 150
km northwest to Tbilisi. Judging by design, the church and belfry were probably
built in the 14th c. The picturesque mountain Mkinvartsveri, the sixth tallest
among the Caucasus summits (5,047 m), provides a stunning backdrop to the
Trinity Church.
Gergeti Church of Trinity,XIV c.
Georgian architecture witnessed particular
growth in the 11th and 12th cc. Good example of this is Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
(1010-1029) in Mtskheta. This is the largest surviving church in Georgia. Its
has a rectangular plan that is significantly elongated along the
east-west axis. Facade is made more vivid by decorative arches of
different sizes. This asymmetry makes the Cathedral more natural and impressive.
Stonework is complicated and extremely graceful. Grapevine motif is the
dominating one. Images of animals are scattered over the facade walls of the
Cathedral. Different coloration of stones underlines certain elements of the
construction, as well as that of the
decoration.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, 1010-1029
