Monasteries and Churches
Sapara Monastery
A jewel hidden in the forest
About 13 km southeast of the city of Akhaltsikhe, Sapara Monastery is one of the region’s most well-known landmarks.
The Georgian name “Sapara” means “hidden” or “sheltered” and seems quite appropriate; when the Ottomans invaded most of the area during the 16th century, Sapara, because of its secluded location within deep forests, was one of the very few churches that was not immediately destroyed and dissolved.
The history of Sapara Monastery may have begun as early as the 8th century, with the Church of the Assumption of Mary being one of the first buildings to be erected. The complex itself with several church buildings and a palace with fortifications walls followed later.
Today Sapara Monastery still consists of numerous buildings that are open to visitors: St. Saba’s Church, the Church of the Assumption of Mary, Saint George’s Church, and the chapels of Saint Stephen, Saint Demetrius, Saint John Chrysostom and St. John the Baptist, as well as the remnants of a palace and a bell tower.
Although Sapara must have already been a vibrant monastery complex throughout the 9th century, it began reaching its prime in the late 13th century, when Sapara fell into the hands of the Jaqeli family.
Sargis I Jaqeli, who became the first sovereign prince of the region of Samtskhe in 1268, and his son Beka are responsible for the construction of the largest church of the Sapara complex: the cross-in-square church of St. Saba, dating back to the late 13th century and featuring well-preserved frescoes from the 14th century. The church is named after Saint Saba, a monk and priest from the 6th century, whose name Sargis Jaqeli adopted in later years, when he became a monk himself.
Beka I Jaqeli, following his father as the Georgian ruling prince of Samtskhe from 1285 to 1306, also built a grand palace, the remnants of which can still be seen today. Sapara Palace was presumably once an impressive castle, yet today only the ground floor is still visible. Constructed from locally hewn stone, the palace must have had a second floor, likely with ceremonial halls and wide windows, but the current state of the palace makes it impossible to imagine fully its original appearance.
When the Ottomans stormed the country during the 16th century, Sapara Monastery, unlike many other churches in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, was not destroyed, but still abandoned and its treasures transferred to other cities in Georgia, thus preserving them from theft and destruction.
The following centuries were quiet ones for Sapara Monastery as it lay completely deserted until the 19th century, when monks started living here once again. Not for long, however. In 1893, when Georgia had already been under Russian rule for nearly a century, the monastery was first transformed into a hermitage, and then, during the 20th century, completely repurposed for non-religious activities.
It was only after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989 that religious life and monastic activities were restored at Sapara monastery and monks continue to live and work here today.
How to get there:
From Akhaltsikhe you first drive a few kilometers on the main road ს 11 in southeast direction, before turning right at a small roundabout onto a small, local road. Afzer about 10 km this road leads directly to the Sapara Monastery and also ends there. The road was in excellent condition during our visit (May 2022) and - unusual for Georgian standards - also equipped with a new crash barrier. Unfortunately, the turnoff from the main road 11 is not signposted, but local drivers know the way. It is therefore best to take a taxi (8-10 GEL). Driving time from Akhaltsikhe about 20 minutes.
Distances from major cities:
Akhaltsikhe - Sapara Monastery: 13km
Opening hours:
Sapara Monastery can be visited any time during the week and on weekends.
Admission fee:
There is no admission fee.
Important things to know:
Like many other monasteries and churches, the Sapara Monastery does not offer any tourist infrastructure. The monastery complex is in very good condition, the St. Saba Church can be visited. In the interior you should avoid taking pictures and wear appropriate, long clothing.
Picture credits: beyondarts GmbH
Project “Increased regional added value in the tourism sectors of Georgia by Digital Heritage Tourism Guides” was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.
