Gantiadi church


Gantiadi church is a 6th-century three-apse basilica, located in settlement of Gantiadi. It was built in 543 AD and altered several times in 8-10th centuries. In 1576 it was partly destroyed by Ottoman invaders. It is one of the oldest Christian temples in Georgia. Nowadays only the ruins of the basilica are left standing.

Historical-Architectural description

Experts of the respective field have suggested that it is the church, which was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I for Abazg tribes when they got Christianized. In the ruins of the Basilica was found a fragment of the tombstone with the Greek uncial inscription. It seems most likely that the inscription belonged to the tomb of a clerical or secular dignitary of Abkhazia. Name of the buried is lost. The inscription is dated back to the 6th c.
The church is a three-nave basilica, built of medium-size limestone Quadra of regular shape and flat brick of varied sizes.

Current condition

The territory is currently occupied by Russia, because of which it is impossible to study and to conduct the respective works. The church is in a heavy physical condition and needs urgent conservation and restoration works.
Tsandripshi church has been given the status of national importance monument.

Literature