Atskuri Cathedral

Atskuri Cathedral is a monument of Georgian architecture in the village of the same name.

According to the The Vita of Grigol Khandzteli, the Episcopal Cathedral in Atskuri already existed during the time of Grigol Khandzeteli, in the 8^th–9^th centuries. One of Grigol's disciples was the bishop of Atskuri. Writers, calligraphers, and bookbinders worked there at different times. Giorgi Matskvereli (9^th–10^th centuries), Gabriel Kotia (11^th century), Grigol, Ioakime Matskvereli, Simeon Kargareteli, Jeremiah Matskvereli (all of them from 16^th century) and others were important figures in Georgian written culture.

The icon of Our Lady of Atskuri Cathedral was famous throughout Georgia. The chronicler tells us that at the end of the 13^th century, during an earthquake (on the eve of Easter), the icon rested in the middle of the cathedral, the fallen dome covered it like a hat and it survived. The ruins of the Domed Church of the Virgin Mary, preserved in the territory of Atskuri, amazes people to this day with its size (its area even exceeds that of Svetitskhoveli). Two construction forms are distinguished — from 10^th–11^th and 13^th–14^th centuries. Now the dome and all the vaults are down. The eastern part is relatively better preserved. The altar and the rooms on both sides of it (the so-called deacon and sacrificial altar) had gabled walls facing east. Inside, the decoration of the altar corners is preserved. The decoration of the exterior of the altar wall (carved parts of arches and windows) confirms that this part of the building was built earlier than the 13^th century; It seems to have survived the earthquake that severely damaged the Atskuri Cathedral. The western wall was not rebuilt after the earthquake. Old photographs show its external decoration, which belongs to the end of the 13^th–14^th centuries or the 1^st half of the 14^th century. In the 16^th century, mass and prayers still took place in the Atskuri Cathedral, it was active in the 2^nd half of the 18^th century as well, even until the beginning of the 19^th century. It seems that the monument was totally destroyed during the last years of Ottoman rule. Near the Atskuri Cathedral, the Atskuri Fortress was erected, the ruins of the church of the 10^th–13^th century, the Slesa fortress have been preserved.

Literature: ბერიძე ვ., სამცხის ხუროთმოძღვრული ძეგლები, თბ., 1970; მენაბდე ლ., ძველი ქართული მწერლობის კერები, ტ. 1, ნაკვ. 2, თბ., 1962.

V. Beridze

L. Menabde