Samtavro Church
Nun takes care of tombs near the church
Samtavro Monastery (Georgian: სამთავროს მონასტერი) is a Georgian Orthodox Christian monastery complex 🌜 that combines Samtavro Transfiguration Church and Nunnery of St. Nino in Mtskheta, Georgia. Built presumably in the 4th century by 🌜 the King Mirian III, and reconstructed in the 11th century by the King George I and Catholicos-Patriarch Melchizedek I, Samtavro 🌜 is an important Early and High Medieval historical and architectural monument, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List 🌜 in 1994 along other historical monuments in Mtskheta.[1] Samtavro church is cross-in-square temple, with arches and other decorations typical for 🌜 the 11th century Georgian architecture. The graves of Mirian III and the famous Georgian Saint monk Gabriel are located in 🌜 the yard of Samtavro Church.[1]
History [ edit ]
The monastery was constructed in the northwestern part of the old town of 🌜 Mtskheta. Unfortunately, no inscriptions remain to tell about its construction time. According to the Georgian hagiographic sources the monastery was 🌜 established in the 4th century, during the reign of the King Mirian III of Iberia, when a small church was 🌜 built here by Saint Nino in connection with conversion of Georgia in Christianity. Mirian and his wife Nino were buried 🌜 in the monastery.
The tombs of Mirian and Nana
The name "Samtavro" can be translated from the Georgian language as "ruler's place" 🌜 (მთავარა [mtavara], meaning "ruler"). The main temple is stylistically dated to the first half of the 11th century, and was 🌜 probably built or rebuilt soon after Svetitskhoveli cathedral, with Catholicos-Patriarch Melchizedek I. Its dome was destroyed in 1283 by earthquake, 🌜 and restored some time between the end of 13th and the beginning of 14th century. From around the same time 🌜 dates the altar iconostasis. Minor renovations have also been done for the facades. The wall, surrounding the monastery, was built 🌜 in the Late Middle Ages, with the bell-tower added in 16th century. Original frescos did not survive, and the new 🌜 were painted in 16-17th century. Other renovations were made in 17th century and later. The wall was constructed in 18th 🌜 century. Grave stones for the burials of Mirian and his wife Nana were made in 19th century.
Architecture [ edit ]
Samtavro 🌜 church is a typical example of a cross-in-square temple. Its dome rests on two pillars and the projecting walls of 🌜 the altar apsidal. Being a later reconstruction, the dome does not fit into general proportions and the style of the 🌜 11th century. The church has two entrances: southern, with the portal, and western. The facades are made of yellow and 🌜 brown stones. The portal, decorated in arches, also has rather fine ornamental carvings on plafonds. Open interior is well illuminated 🌜 from windows, both on the dome and on all four walls of the church.
Decorations of the southern facade and the 🌜 dome
In accordance with the standards of 11th century, putting accent on decorations, the facades are richly decorated, but variously, considering 🌜 difference in the illumination. Such dualism is not common for that period.[2] Accent was made on southern and northern facades. 🌜 Decorations of the southern facade are rather fine, but rougher on the northern. The architect's idea was to express the 🌜 effect of line movement. Eastern facade is more reserved. Most of the contrast here is created by triangular niches. Arches 🌜 and windows have the signs of later alterations, including addition of the cross of the wall. Decorations of the western 🌜 facade are even more simple. Portal here is more recent.
Fragments of frescos remain in the dome and altar.
Apart from the 🌜 main temple, the monastery includes a small church, the bell-tower, a cylindrical tower, remnants of palace and some modern structures, 🌜 all surrounded by the wall.
St. Nino's Church
The bell-tower, situated in the north-west corner of the wall, has three floors. The 🌜 ground floor incorporates the entrance to the territory, the first floor was served both for observation and for living, and 🌜 the second floor is an open belfry.
A small church, standing to right from the entrance, was rebuilt several times. It 🌜 was said to be originally built by Saint Nino of Cappadocia, who converted Georgia into Christianity.
Burials [ edit ]
The tombs 🌜 of King Mirian III and his wife Nana, are found inside the church in the south-west part.
See also [ edit 🌜 ]
References [ edit ]
Джанберидзе Н., Мачабели К. (1981) Тбилиси. Мцхета. Москва: Искусство, 255 c. (In Russian)
Закарая, П. (1983) Памятники Восточной 🌜 Грузии. Искусство, Москва, 376 с. (In Russian)
