Kumurdo Cathedral, Orthodox cathedral in Akhalkalaki Municipality, Georgia
Kumurdo Cathedral is a medieval stone church on the Javakheti Plateau in Akhalkalaki Municipality, Georgia, built on a cross plan with four arms and apses on the eastern, southern, and northern sides. The original dome is no longer standing, but the walls remain largely intact and show carefully cut stonework.
The cathedral was built in 964 during the reign of King Leon III of the Abkhazians, making it one of the oldest surviving stone churches on the plateau. Inscriptions in the ancient Georgian Asomtavruli script on the walls date from the time of its construction.
The eastern facade carries stone carvings of biblical scenes that visitors can examine up close. Inside, a sculpted portrait of Queen Gurandukht appears on one of the walls, which is rare in churches of this period.
The cathedral sits around 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) southwest of Akhalkalaki on an open stretch of the Javakheti Plateau with no facilities nearby. The ground around the site is uneven and rural, so sturdy footwear helps, and the weather at this altitude can change quickly.
Next to the main church stands a small chapel that houses a carved stone stele from the 5th or 6th century. This marker is several centuries older than the cathedral and points to sacred use of the site long before the church was built.
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