Nikortsminda Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nikortsminda Cathedral ნიკორწმინდის ტაძარი
Nikortsminda Cathedral
Religion
Affiliation	Georgian Orthodox Church
District	Racha (historic region)
Region	Caucasus
Status	Active
Location
Location	Nikortsminda, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Province (Mkhare),  Georgia
Location in Georgia
Architecture
Architectural type	Domed cruciform plan
Architectural style	Georgian; Cathedral
Groundbreaking	1010
Completed	1014; Belfry: late 19th century
Dome(s)	1

Nikortsminda Cathedral is a beautiful old church in the Racha region of Georgia. It's a special place for the Georgian Orthodox Church. This amazing building shows off the incredible art and architecture from a long time ago in Georgia.

The Nikortsminda Cathedral was built a very long time ago, between the years 1010 and 1014. This was when King Bagrat III of Georgia ruled Georgia. Later, in 1534, King Bagrat III of Imereti helped repair the cathedral to keep it in good condition. The tall, three-story bell-tower you see next to the church was added much later, in the late 1800s. Inside the cathedral, there are amazing paintings called frescoes that were created in the 1600s.

This cathedral is so important that it's on a special list called the Tentative List for a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it might become a recognized world heritage site in the future, protecting its history and beauty for everyone.

Exploring Nikortsminda Cathedral

Nikortsminda Cathedral is built in a style called the Georgian cross-dome plan. This means it has a main dome and arms that form a cross shape. The building's design is very unique, with six rounded sections inside a rectangular shape.

The Magnificent Dome

The cathedral has a very large dome that stands tall. Around the dome, there are twelve windows that let in lots of light. These windows are decorated with beautiful carvings and designs.

Inside the Cathedral

When you step inside Nikortsminda Cathedral, you'll see five rounded sections, called apses. From these sections, the huge dome rises up. The dome is lit brightly by its twelve windows, making the inside feel open and grand. The space inside is made even larger by the altar area and a western walkway. The walls are covered with stunning frescoes from the 1600s. There are also detailed stone carvings that show the amazing art skills of people from the late Middle Ages in Georgia.

Outside the Cathedral

From the outside, the cathedral looks like a short-armed cross. The walls are made of smoothly cut stone. The exterior is covered with many beautiful decorations. These include continuous arches and rich ornaments. You can also see detailed carvings that tell stories. Some of these carvings show scenes like The Transfiguration and The Judgment Day. There are also figures of saints, real animals, and mythical creatures. All these carvings work together to create a planned artistic program. Nikortsminda has some of the most beautiful decorations of all Georgian churches, mixing several different styles.

Gallery

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  Frescoes on the dome interior.

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  Belfry, 19th century