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| Tsromi church წრომის ტაძარი(in Georgian) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Front view of the Tsromi church | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Georgian Orthodox |
| Province | Shida Kartli |
| Location | |
| Location |  Shida Kartli,Georgia |
  Shown within Shida Kartli Show map of Shida Kartli Tsromi church (Georgia) Show map of Georgia | |
| Geographic coordinates | 41°59′36″N43°44′12″E / 41.99333°N 43.73667°E /41.99333; 43.73667 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Church |
| Completed | 7th century |
The church of Tsromi (Georgian:წრომის ტაძარი)is an early medieval church in villageTsromi, in the vicinity of townKhashuri, inShida Kartli region ofGeorgia. It is situated at the center of the village, along the right side of the riverMtkvari (Kura).
According to the southern façade, the temple construction dates to the years 626–634, when it was built during the reign ofStephen II of Iberia. The monument was strongly affected and got even worse during the earthquake in 1940. Now the temple is fortified.
The domed temple represents a monument of Georgian architecture, distinguished by its complex composition. Its artistic importance is comparable withJvari Monastery inMtskhetasaIt is the basis of the further development of Georgian church architecture of the Middle Ages.
The temple is a ″drawn-inside cross″ type; the basis of its plan is an equiangular cross. It is the first Georgian church where the dome rests on four free pillars. It also gave freedom to walls and opened new perspectives in theGeorgian architecture.[1]
The exterior is modestly decorated. The eastern facade is cut with two deep triangular niches. Such niches by the side of theapse appeared for the first time in Tsromi to later become characteristic Georgian temple decoration.
The interior is illuminated through high windows in the dome and each cross arm. The temple decoration is scant. The conch of the temple altar was decorated with contemporaneous mosaic, depictingChrist and twoapostles, the reserved fragments of which are kept in theMuseum of Art of Georgia since 1930s. Theprothesis and thesacristy are in eastern part, on the altar sides. Each of them has cross-shaped and octangular vaults.
The stairs in the northern corner lead to the choir above thenarthex, meant for nobility, women and singers.
