Akhali Shuamta (New Shuamta Monastery)

Akhali Shuamta is a Georgian architectural monument in Telavi municipality. It is a monastery complex with a main church dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin, built in the 1540s by Queen Tinatin, wife of Levan, King of Kakhetians (according to her will, she is buried here).

It is a Kakhetian-type church, which has some distinguished characteristics: these are brick-domed buildings with strong elongated proportions. The construction of the church followed a plan developed in the prior century. The dome has eight tall windows. The architecture of the main part of the structure is clearly Georgian; however, the façade has some Iranian influence. The walls on the inside of the church are painted with frescos. There is a tall, several-story bell tower near the church. The construction material is mainly cobblestone and mixed brick. The belltower was crowned with a belfry. People ascended the tower via internal stairs built into the walls. According to the inscription on the western door, the monastery was renovated and its foundation restored during the reign of Erekle II (after 1762). In 1820, the monument was repaired again, which left traces that can be seen today.

Gremi Church of Archangels, Sikhiani Church of "Resurrection,” and Tsilkani Church are in the same architectural group as Akhali Shuamta.

Literature: Чубинашвили Г. Н., Архитектура Кахетии, Тб., 1959.

V. Beridze