Udabno Monastery, Medieval monastery in Sagarejo Municipality, Georgia.
Udabno Monastery sits on the Gareji ridge in the Kakheti region, with multiple cave chambers carved directly into the rocky mountainside. The complex is built into the slope using the natural rock formation as part of its structure.
Udabno Monastery belongs to the medieval David Gareji monastic complex in historic Kukheti, now in Sagarejo Municipality. Its main church, dedicated to the Mother of God, preserves frescoes whose oldest layer dates to the second half of the 10th century; the refectory paintings are of the same period. The diaconicon frescoes, close to early Christian art of the East, were probably painted between 856 and 864. Later layers date to the 13th and 14th centuries.
The refectory and the main Church of the Mother of God carry wall paintings from the second half of the 10th century. The murals in the diakonikon, dated by style and iconography to between 856 and 864, follow earlier models from the Christian East. The cycle of David Garejeli's life appears here for the first time in Georgian wall painting; later layers date to the 13th and 14th centuries.
The monastery lies 60–70 km southeast of Tbilisi in Sagarejo Municipality, on the southern slope of a rock rising southwest of David's Lavra. Since 6 May 2012 Azerbaijani border guards have controlled access, and until the border is agreed visitors may still enter. Check the current situation before setting out.
On 6 May 2012 Azerbaijani border guards closed the monastery grounds to tourists; Georgia's culture ministry then stated the site lies on Azerbaijani territory. A commission delimiting the Georgia–Azerbaijan border was set up, and until the border is agreed visitors can again reach the monastery.
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