| Dranda Cathedral Нанҳәа иазку Дранда-ныха დრანდის ტაძარი | |
|---|---|
 Dranda Cathedral | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Georgian Orthodox |
| Province | Abkhazia[1] |
| Location | |
| Location |  Dranda, Gulripshi District, Abkhazia, Georgia |
  Shown within Abkhazia  Dranda Cathedral (Georgia) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 42°52′27″N 41°09′44″E / 42.87417°N 41.16222°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Radial |
| Style | Byzantine, Georgian; Cathedral[2] |
| Founder | Possibly Justinian I |
| Groundbreaking | Possibly early-mid 6th century. |
| Completed | Possibly 551 |
Dranda Cathedral (Abkhaz: Нанҳәа иазку Дранда-ныха, Georgian: დრანდის ტაძარი) is a Georgian Orthodox Cathedral located in Dranda, in the Gulripshi District of the de facto independent Republic of Abkhazia, internationally recognised to constitute a part of Georgia.
According to the Roman historian Procopius of Caesarea, in 551 emperor Justinian I built a temple in these environs; this is believed by some to have been what is now the cathedral in Dranda. In the Georgian Orthodox Catholicate of Abkhazia, Dranda was the seat of a bishop.
There has been some restoration on the exterior walls of the structure and roof, covering with stucco much of the original brick architecture that was once visible. Small portions may still be seen in what was intentionally left untouched.
Gallery
Close-up of the exterior wall.
Baptismal font before the reconstruction
Interior with the font (after reconstruction) in the background
References
- ↑ The political status of Abkhazia is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence from Georgia in 1992, Abkhazia is formally recognised as an independent state by 5 UN member states (two other states previously recognised it but then withdrew their recognition), while the remainder of the international community recognizes it as as de jure Georgian territory. Georgia continues to claim the area as its own territory, designating it as Russian-occupied territory.
- ↑ Mariam Didebulidze, Cultural Heritage of Abkhazia (Apkhazeti)
External links
Media related to Dranda Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons
- Photographs and background information (in Russian)