Nikortsminda Cathedral ( ka, ნიკორწმინდის ტაძარი) is a Georgian Orthodox

Church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * Chri ...

, located in Nikortsminda,

Racha Racha (also Račha, , ''Račʼa'') is a highland area in western Georgia, located in the upper Rioni river valley and hemmed in by the Greater Caucasus mountains. Under Georgia's current subdivision, Racha is included in the Racha-Lechkhumi an ...

region of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

. Nikortsminda was built in 1010–1014 during the reign of

Bagrat III of Georgia Bagrat III ( ka, ბაგრატ III) (c. 960 – 7 May 1014), of the Georgian Bagrationi dynasty, was King of Abkhazia from 978 on (as Bagrat II) and King of Georgia from 1008 on. He united these two titles by dynastic inheritance and, th ...

The inscription of the western entrance testifies the fact and was repaired in 1534 by the King Bagrat III of

Imereti Imereti ( Georgian: იმერეთი) is a region of Georgia situated in the central-western part of the republic along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni River. Imereti is the most populous region in Georgia. It consists of 11 munic ...

. Three-storied bell-tower next to the cathedral was built in the second half of the 19th century. Frescoes inside the cathedral date from the 17th century. The cathedral is on the Tentative List for status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Details

Stylistically, Nikortsminda reflects the Georgian cross-dome style of architecture, following a six-conch-within-rectangle plan. The rectangular western apse has adjoining side chapels.

Dome

Nikortsminda has a massive dome and unbroken arcatures as its twelve windows, which are decorated with ornamented architraves.

Interior

The cathedral is formed of five interior apses, from which rise the massive dome, resting upon half-pillar shaped apse projections. It is abundantly lit by the twelve windows of the drum. The transition from the hexahedron of the round drum to the dome circle is effected by means of spheric pendentives. The altar apse bema and the western passage enlarge the interior space. The interior is decorated with frescoes from the 17th century and ornamental sculptural reliefs, reflecting the mastery of the late-Medieval Georgian ecclesiastical art.

Exterior

The cathedral follows a short-armed rectangular cross plan and has a short segment to the west. The facades of the cathedral are covered with smoothly hewn stone. Decorations include unbroken arcatures and various rich ornaments, including multiple-figured narrative reliefs and episodes ('' The Transfiguration'', ''

The Judgment Day The Judgment Day is a villainous professional wrestling stable composed of Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Dominik Mysterio. The stable performs in WWE on the Raw brand. The Judgment Day was founded and previously led by Edge. H ...

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'', figures of Saint George and Saint Theodore, real and mythic animals, forming one premeditated program). Nikortsminda has among the most beautiful decorations of all Georgian churches and cathedrals as several different styles can be seen.

Gallery

Image:Nikortsminda1.jpg Image:Nikortsminda cathedral.jpg Image:Nikortsminda.jpg Image:Nikortsminda (23).jpg, Frescoes on the dome interior. Image:Nikortsminda2.jpg, Belfry, 19th century

Notes

References

* ''The Spiritual Treasure of Georgia''. Khelovneba Publishers, Tbilisi: 2005.

External links

* ''Nikortsminda'' retrieved from Parliament.G

* further photos

{{Authority control Church buildings with domes Georgian Orthodox cathedrals in Georgia (country) 11th-century Eastern Orthodox church buildings Eastern Orthodox church buildings in Georgia (country) Racha World Heritage Tentative List Buildings and structures in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Tourist attractions in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti 11th-century churches in Georgia (country)