Tsughrughasheni Church, Medieval Orthodox church in Bolnisi Municipality, Georgia.
Tsughrughasheni Church is a medieval place of worship that sits on a hillside overlooking the Bolnisistskali River. The building stands out for its elaborate stone ornaments and a notably tall central dome that rises above the roof structure.
The church was built between 1212 and 1222 under King George IV Lasha of the Bagrationi dynasty, a time of significant building activity across Georgia.
The church displays traditional Georgian stone carvings on its exterior walls that remain visible today. These decorative patterns reflect the craftsmanship that has defined the region's building practices for generations.
The site is fairly accessible but the terrain is hilly and requires some footing. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing and be aware that paths vary in condition depending on the season.
Three inscriptions survive on the church, not inside it. The best-preserved one, in ten lines of asomtavruli script, is carved on a large blue stone to the right of the west door; a second, on the south door's decorated architrave, was cut by two craftsmen. They name King George and the builder Hasan Arsenis-dze.
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