Sapara and Zarzma

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Sapara – a medieval Georgian mo­nastery and one of the residences and bureal sites of the rulers of Samtskhe, the Jakeli family - is located in 12 km to the south-east from the town of Akhaltsikhe. The oldest construction of the complex – church of Assumption dates from X century, and the main part (main dome church of St. Saba, belfry and palace) were constructed on the edge of XIII-XIV cc., during the rule of the sovereign of Samtskhe, Beka Jakeli (1285-1309).

On the southern wall of the church of St. Saba are depicted donators of the monastery – family portraits of Jakeli: Sargis I (1266-1285) who was ordained as a priest under the name of Saba, his son Beka I – with a model of a church, Beka’s children Sargis II (1309-1334) and Kvarkvare (1334-1360). To the west of the cathedral, at the top of an anteroom window, there is an inscription of its builder Parezasdze. Cathedral both in the interior and from outside is adorned with various decor and ornaments. Bell tower located to the west of the main cathedral is the family cemetery of the Msakhurtukhutsesi (Chief minister) of the Jakeli family, Lasurisdze. There are ruins of the old fortress overlooking the monastery from western side. During domination of the Ottomans, in XVI century, monks left the monastery. The monastery life was renewed in Sapara in XIX century.

Author: Publishing House "Klio"