Vanis Kvabebi ( ka, ვანის ქვაბები; ) is a

cave monastery A cave monastery is a monastery built in caves, with possible outside facilities. The 3rd-century monk Anthony the Great, St. Anthony the Great, known as the founder of Christian monasticism, lived in a cave. *Albania **Qafthanë Cave Church, ca ...

in Samtskhe-Javakheti region of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

near Aspindza town and the more famous cave city of

Vardzia Vardzia ( ka, ვარძია ) is a cave monastery site in southern Georgia (country), Georgia, Rock cut architecture, excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Kura (Caspian Sea), Kura River, thirty kilometre ...

. The complex dates from 8th century and consists of a defensive wall built in 1204 and a maze of tunnels running on several levels in the side of the mountain. There are also two churches in the complex. A newer stone church that is in quite good shape stands near the top of the wall, and a smaller, domed church that clings to the rock on the level of the highest tunnels The complex has undergone a

USAID The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an agency of the United States government that has been responsible for administering civilian United States foreign aid, foreign aid and development assistance. Established in 19 ...

programme to update its infrastructure.

References

{{Georgian Churches Georgian Orthodox monasteries Georgian Orthodox churches in Samtskhe–Javakheti Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia Cave monasteries

See also

References