Barakoni Church of the
Mother of God ( ka, ბარაკონის ღვთისმშობლის ტაძარი), commonly known as Barakoni (ბარაკონი), is an
Orthodox church
Orthodox Church may refer to:
* Eastern Orthodox Church
* Oriental Orthodox Churches
* Orthodox Presbyterian Church
* Orthodox Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
* State church of the Roman Empire
* True Orthodox church
See also
* Orthodox (dis ...
in
Georgia, near the town of
Ambrolauri, in the village of Tsesi of mountainous western province of
Racha
Racha (also Račha, , ''Račʼa'') is a highland area in western Georgia, located in the upper Rioni river valley and hemmed in by the Greater Caucasus mountains. Under Georgia's current subdivision, Racha is included in the Racha-Lechkhumi and ...
(modern-day
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti ( ka, რაჭა-ლეჩხუმი და ქვემო სვანეთი, ''Rach’a-Lechkhumi da Kvemo Svaneti'') is a region (Mkhare) in northwestern Georgia with a population of 28,500 (2021), mak ...
).
Barakoni was commissioned, in 1753, by the local lord (
eristavi)
Rostom of Racha (1750-1769) from the architect Avtandil Shulavreli who is commemorated in the inscription of the eastern façade. It is a domed
cruciform church and one of the last important monuments in the tradition of medieval Georgian architecture. The church was built of neatly trimmed stable stand stones and adorned with rich ornamentation. The church was closed and desecrated under the
Bolshevik rule. It suffered further damage, though not serious, in the
1991 Racha earthquake
The 1991 Racha earthquake occurred in the province of Racha, Georgia, at 9:12 UTC on 29 April. Centered on the districts of Oni and Ambrolauri on the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus mountains, it killed 270, left approximately 100, ...
, but was quickly repaired.
[ M. Dvali (1993). ბარაკონის ღვთისმშობლის ტაძარი (''Barakoni Church of the Mother of God''). ''Dzgelis Megobari'' 2: 23-7.] Located on a top of a steep cliff, it overlooks
Rioni River which is joined the
Lukhuni River just below the mountain.
[
]
References
{{Georgia-EO-church-stub
Churches in Georgia (country)
Churches completed in 1753
18th-century Eastern Orthodox church buildings
Racha
Buildings and structures in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti
