Sarsma monastery
Coordinates: 41 ° 40 ′ 47.1 ″ N , 42 ° 39 ′ 13.8 ″ E
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The Zarzma monastery ( Georgian ზარზმის მონასტერი , zɑrzmɪs mɔnɑst'ɛrɪ ) is an orthodox Georgian convent in the region Samtskhe-Javakheti in Georgia . It is located in the village of the same name and was founded between the 6th and 9th centuries. The medieval historical work "The Life of Serapion of Sarsma", handed down in a manuscript from the Opiza monastery, mentions the monk Serapion as the founder.
The oldest building that has been preserved in ruins is a chapel from the 10th century. The other buildings date from the beginning of the 14th century. In addition to the main church, the complex includes a free-standing bell tower, two smaller churches, three chapels and a fountain. The large cross- domed church was built by Bekas I, Prince of Samzche and grandfather of George V before 1308. It contains wall paintings from the 14th century, the larger than life figures of the Samzche princes Sargis I, Bekas I and his sons are worth mentioning.
literature
- Edith Neubauer: Old Georgian architecture. Rock towns, churches, cave monasteries. Anton Schroll, Vienna / Munich 1976, ISBN 3-7031-0424-4 , pp. 204f.
Web links
- Information about the monastery (Georgian, English, Russian)