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Zeda Vardzia Monastery

Church and monastery

Zeda Vardzia, the so-called "upper Vardzia", is a Georgian Orthodox church and monastery around only 3 km northwest of Vardzia, the famous medieval rock monastery in the Aspindza Municipality of Samtskhe-Javakheti. Zeda Vardzia Monastery is currently home to around 20 members.

Vardzia‘s church and monastery were constructed in the 11th century, most probably by Eristavi Liparit IV, whose name is mentioned on a basement wall stone.

Liparit IV was a Georgian general, who was not only a supporter of King Bagrat IV of Georgia, who reigned from 1027 to 1072, but also, at times, one of his greatest rivals. Liparit was an “eristavi”, a duke, of the royal family of Kldekari.  

During the 11th century Vardzia’s church and monastery were home to a thriving monastic community, which was partly moved to the new and much larger complex in the Vardzia cave city under the reign of King George III of Georgia in the late 12th century.  

When the Turks invaded the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti in the 16th century, the church and monastery, like many other Christian buildings in of the region, were finally deserted and left to decay.

It was only in the 20th century, from 1975 to 1978, under Soviet rule in Georgia, that Zeda Vardzia’s church and monastery were re-established although not for religious use yet. In 1997, after the end of the Soviet Empire and Georgia’s return to sovereignty, the church was returned to Christian use and settled by a community of nuns.

Zeda Vardzia Church is constructed on an artificially flattened rock surface in the upper Vardzia canyon, featuring two naves with an open three-arch extension on the south side.

Above the entrance there is an inscription in the medieval Georgian Asomtavruli script, mentioning Apridon, a 12th century Georgian politician and devoted follower of King George III and his daughter and successor Queen Tamar.  

The Asomtavruli script is the oldest of the three Georgian scripts and the name “Asomtavruli” means “capital letters”, as it is a unicameral script, with only one case for each letter.

Zeda Vardzia Church is made of evenly hewn rectangular stone blocks. The main south nave is taller and larger than the one in the north and the two naves are connected by arches that rest on two pillars. The interior was once frescoed, but the wall paintings have mostly faded and can hardly been seen anymore.  

Zeda Vardzia Church is inscribed on the list of Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia.


How to get there:

Zeda Vardzia Monastery is located 3 km northwest of the famous Vardzia Cave Monastery, off the main road ს 11 coming from the cities of Akhaltzikhe and Aspindza. At Khertvisi take the well-developed regional road შ 58 for about 25 km to the south and you will reach Vardzia directly. A taxi from Aspindza takes about 40 minutes (20 GEL).

Distances from major cities:
Akhaltzikhe - Vardzia: 63km | Aspindza - Vardzia: 32km

Opening hours:
Zeda Vardzia Monastery can be visited at any time during the week or on weekends.

Admission fee:
There is no admission fee.

Important things to know:
There is a small market nearby, also places to eat, a few guesthouses, a handicraft shop and toilets.

Picture credits: SJDC

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.

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