Shemokmedi Monastery
The Shemokmedi Monastery ( Georgian შემოქმედის მონასტერი ) is a Georgian Orthodox monastery in the Georgian region of Guria , in the municipality of Osurgeti , in the village of the same name, Shemokmedi . It is located on the left bank of the Bshushi River ( Georgian ბჟუჟი ). The monastery is seven to eight kilometers away from Osurgeti and is the center of the Schemokmedi diocese of the same name .
The Schemokmedi complex consists of two church buildings and a bell tower from the 16th century. The main church was built in the 12th century. The second, smaller church was built in the 16th century by the prince of Gurien, Vakhtang I. Gurieli , to place an icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord brought from the Sarsma monastery . This little church bears the name "Sarsma". In 1831 the bell tower was renovated. The main church of Shemokmedi is a three-aisled basilica without a dome; earlier it must have been a single-nave basilica. The walls are made of hewn stone, the floor is covered with marble.
In the Middle Ages, the Shemokmedi Monastery was one of the richest monasteries in Georgia. He still owns a rich library today. In the past, the monastery also owned important properties in Guria . Several relics, such as particularly valuable icons, were kept in the monastery.
Web links
- Shemokmedi Diocese, official site (Georgian)
- Information about the Shemokmedi monastery. Geoah.Ge (Georgian)
- Shemokmedi Monastery, historical-architectural description (Georgian)
Coordinates: 41 ° 54 ′ 27 " N , 42 ° 3 ′ 47" E