Rkoni

Rkoni monastery complex (VII-XVIII cc.) is located in the vicinity of the village of Chachubeti in Kaspi region, not far from village ruins of Rkoni. The oldest memorial of the complex is church of Virgin Mary (VII c.). In XIII-XIV cc. were built gates of the church of Virgin Mary, chapel, one-nave church of John the Baptist and refectory, tower of Svimon Mesvete; belfry of XVI-XVIII cc., living and utility rooms. Within a distance of 0,5 km from the monastery, on the river Tedzami is a one-span bridge – the best specimen of the bridges of medieval Georgia. Between the monastery and the village ruins is located the fortress of Rkoni (XVII c.). Inside its fence there are remnants of a palace and a church.

Rkoni monastery complex is located in 20 km to the south-west from Kaspi, on the right bank of river Tedzami. In XII-XVIII centuries Rkoni was crossed by important merchant, military and strategic ways connecting Shida Kartli with Javakheti, Trialeti and further, via Armenia, with the Middle East. That facilitated big religious architectural development in Rkoni and its environs.

The core construction of the Rkoni monastery complex is a three-nave Virgin Mary Basilica (VII c.: 18 x 12 m) with the entrance from three sides, deacon’s premises, pastophorium. There are small remnants of XII-XVII cc. mural painting. The last renovation of the church was done in 1972-74. From the gates (3,8 x 9,5) and hall-style chapel (second half of the XII century), the remnant paintings of presumably XIII-XIV centuries have been preserved in the chapel. Facades of the chapel are covered with cut stone and adorned with decoration arches and ornaments. The construction included in the complex is a refectory in the north-west from the core church. The main construction dates back to XIII-XIV centuries. Auxiliary premises (5,2x16,6) covered by arrowed arch and based on 6 carrying bends nowadays is severely damaged; the tower of Svimon Mesvete is located in 100 meters to south-west from refectory, on the other side of the river bank. Three levels are currently extant; belfry – to north-west from core church, dates XVII-XVIII centuries, a two-story building. Second level is an eight-arch cylindrical-shaped brick summer pavilion where leads a stair attached from the west side; church of John the Baptist (XIII-XIV cc.) is a hall church (7,3 x 4,3) standing to the south of the core church, in seven meters, on a two-step basement.

Rkoni (Tamar‘s) bridge is spanned across the river Tedzami within the territory of the monastery complex. The bridge dates back to XII-XIII centuries. Semi-circle 12,5 m bridge is a one-off, monolithic construction elevated on 7,6 m height from the surface of the river. Its width is 2,2 meters. It was built with broken stones in the solid mortar from lime silicate. Abutments of the bridge rest on the natural rocky basement. The bridge is extant in its primary form and is one of the best specimens of fuedal-time bridges in Georgia. Near Rkoni monastery are located a church of St. George in Ikvi and a church of Chachubeti.

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