Photos of the Georgian Timotesubani Monastery Georgia

Home  /  Medieval Middle Ages Index /  Romanesque Churches & Monasteries

Photos of the Medieval Georgian Timotesubani Monastery Georgia,(country). Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

How To Download These Photos ?

Photos of the Medieval Georgian Timotesubani Monastery Georgia (country)

---

Photos of Timotesubani Medieval Georgian Orthodox Monastery Church of the Holy Dormition (Assumption), dedicated to the Virgin Mary, 1184-1213, Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Georgia (country).

Timotesubani Monastery Pilgrimage Site

The village of Timotesubani is situated in the leafy Borjomi Gorge in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia. It is home to a monastery complex founded in 11th century. The monastery became a pilgimage place for many medieval feuding knights, looking for absolution or asking God for success in their campaigns.

The Donation of knights Shalva and Ivane Toreli

During the medieval “Golden Age” of Georgia under Queen Tamar, 1184-1213, the famous Georgian knights Shalva and Ivane Toreli led contingincies in the largest army Georgia had ever fielded, against the Turks. According to legend Shalva and Ivane Toreli went to Timotesubani monastery, to pray for victory in return for which they would build a new church at Timotesubani. It seems their prayers were heard because on the night of July 23 1202 they went into battle and, after 2 days, conclusively beat a Turkish army of 400,000 men. Sultan of Erzincan was capturing and held to ransom.

In thanks Shalva and Ivane Toreli kept their promise and payed for the Church of the Holy Dormition (Holy Virgin), to be built at Timotesubani.

The Design of Timotesubani Church

The Timotesubani church of the Dormition (Assumption) was built of pinkish Georgian brick to a cruciform floor plan. The eastern end of the church has 3 apses. Above the centre of the church is a high Georgian drum style cupola supported on 2 columns.

Timotesubani Church Fresco Paintings

The Timotesubani church of the Dormition is one of the most significant monuments of the Georgian “Golden Age” because of the unique frescoes inside the church. Paintings depicting the Dormition of the Virgin fill a complete wall while every surface of the interior was covered with frescoes.

The frescoes date from the 11th – 13th century so the Timotesubani church of the Dormition is a tresure trove of medieval Georgian art created during the reign of Queen Tamar.

The fresco murals have been rescued and preserved by the Global Fund of Cultural Heritage.