A large single nave church with a three-sided ambulatory (the northern part of which is now partially ruined) and a horseshoe-shaped apse is located in the village of Chvabiani, in the Mulakhi community. The western façade of the church stands out for its distinctive architectural decoration. The church was built in the first half of the 10th century, and its interior features wall paintings from different periods. The chancel (including the front of the apse) is dated to the 10th century, although the register of the apse wall and the apse front show clear traces of later repainting. The paintings in the nave are from a later period, but due to their severely damaged condition, accurate dating is impossible. In some cases, even identifying the depicted figures is very difficult.
In the chancel of the Chvabiani church, there is a relatively extensive version of the composition of the Theophanic Glory of the Lord, which is distinguished by a number of iconographic peculiarities. Among these, especially notable is the absence of the traditional figure of the Virgin Mary among the row of holy apostles, and the depiction of St. John the Evangelist holding an open codex inscribed with the beginning of the Gospel of John. This detail, together with the inscription on the triumphal arch (Psalm 92:5), serves to emphasize the theme of the Incarnation within the composition of the Glory of the Lord—thereby highlighting the theological importance of the Virgin Mary. This reflects a spiritual tendency characteristic of 10th-century Georgia. It is also noteworthy that on the front of the apse there is a depiction of the Deesis scene, whose iconographic peculiarity (the inclusion of two pairs instead of a single many-winged figure) finds a parallel in the composition of the Theophanic Majesty of the Lord at Tbeti. Thus, the idea of the Lord’s glorification, presented here in a particularly striking manner, is further expanded and enriched through the theme of intercession, which represents an unprecedented case in Georgian wall painting of this period. It should also be especially emphasized that the decoration of the chancel at Chvabiani is the only surviving painted ensemble in Svaneti in which precious lapis lazuli pigment was used.
Thanks to a surviving, though damaged, donor inscription, we know that the builders of the church and the benefactors of the sanctuary’s paintings were three brothers from the Amroleani family—Bende, Amrola, and Michael. The inscription reads:
“With the help of God, we, the three brothers of the Amroleani family—Bende, Amrola, and Michael—by the strength granted to us by God, greater than that of our ancestors, built this holy church for the salvation of our souls, and we painted it during the reign… of the King of Abkhazia. Christ be praised. In the era of… may God protect them and the builders…”
Useful information
| Location | The church is located at the hill, in the outskirts of the village |
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| The Key Holder | The Key is kept with Kakha Chekhani |
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