Likhauri church explained

Building Name:Likhauri church
Map Type:Georgia Guria#Georgia
Map Relief:yes
Location:Likhauri, Ozurgeti Municipality, Georgia
Coordinates:41.8833°N 42.0117°W
Religious Affiliation:Georgian Orthodox Church
Region:Caucasus
District:Ozurgeti Municipality
Functional Status:Active
Architecture:yes
Architecture Style:Georgian
Church

The Likhauri Church is a Georgian Orthodox Church at the Ozurgeti Municipality in the Guria region, Georgia. It was built in the 12th century.

History

The Likhauri church was built in 1352 by the Kajaberi dynasty of Guria. The church is located in the center of the town of Likhauri. Near the church there is an independent bell tower that, like the church, is made of carved stone. On one of the walls of the bell tower there is an inscription in Georgian language. On the eastern wall of the church there is a window richly decorated with Georgian ornaments, and on the western wall is a portal. The south facade was restored with stone and bricks. The rehabilitation works were carried out by the patronage of Gorje IV Gurieli and Queen Khvaremze.[1]

In 2010, a reinforced concrete wall was built on the territory of the Likhauri church to protect the monument in a natural event.[2]

Restoration

The church was painted entirely with fresco paintings, its execution dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The murals of Likhura were torn off in the first half of the 1990s when the church was painted again. Its heavily damaged fragments are stored in the Tbilisi Academy of Art and granted the status of cultural heritage object.[3] Of the paintings, only two remain in the temple.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia, volum 6, p. 270, 1983
  2. http://heritagesites.ge/?lang=geo&page=207&news=877 National Agency for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage of Georgia
  3. https://matsne.gov.ge/index.php?option=com_ldmssearch&view=docView&id=2071612 Order No. 03/198 of the Minister of Culture for the Protection of Monuments of Georgia, November 4, 2013