Photos of the Georgian Ninotsminda Monastery Georgia

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

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Photos of the Medieval Georgian Ninotsminda Monastery Georgia,(country).

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Photos of the medieval Georgian Orthodox Ninotsminda Cathedral ruins, 575 AD, Sagarejo, Kakheti Region, Georgia (country).

Ninotsminda Cathedral

Ninotsminda Cathedral was built in 575 AD with a four apse cruciform shaped ground plan which became the model for the the later tetraconch architecture of such churches as Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta.

According to historical records Ninotsminda Cathedral was reworked in the 10th and 17th centuries only to be destroyed by an earthquake in 1824 and 1848 after which the Cathedral was abandoned.

Today only the eastern apse is standing within which is a 16th century damaged fresco of the Hodgetria, Virgin Mary and Child. Apart from earthquake damage the fresco still shows signs of vandalism inflicted upon it in the form of bullet holes by Dagestani bandits in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The ruins of Ninotsminda Cathedral are still surrounded by a fortified curtain wall with a fortified gate house as its entrance. The brick bell tower next to the Ninotsminda Cathedral ruins dates from 1520 and was built hy King Levan I. Its construction uses a staggered complex geometric brick designs on its exterior influence by Safid Persian designs.