Dranda Cathedral, Drandra, Georgia

Dranda Cathedral 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 OrthodoxCatholicate 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.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Drandra, Georgia

See all sites in Drandra

Details

Founded: 6th century AD
Category: Religious sites in Georgia

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Anacopia Castle (37,8 km)
New Athos Monastery (36,6 km)
Church of St. Simeon the Canaanite (36,5 km)
Besleti Bridge (18,8 km)
Mokvi Cathedral (28,5 km)

User Reviews

Павел Шушарин (6 years ago)
Прекрасное место! Храм 6-го века. Идёт восстановление былого облика территории монастыря. Есть купель, гостиница для паломников. Вокруг открываются красивые виды на окрестности. Это один из самых первых христианских храмов в Абхазии, которые действует и в настоящее время. Под храмом в горе существуют подземные ходы, но доступа к ним практически нет.

Антонина Матросова (6 years ago)
Очень теплое и хорошее место!!! Мы здесь обвенчались! Очень благодарны батюшке за теплый прием!!!

Сергей Овчинников (6 years ago)
Красиво тут

Виталий Карталов (7 years ago)
Храм в селе Дранда расположен в Абхазии, недалеко от города Сухум. Это наиболее древнее сооружение Кавказа, сделанное в византийском стиле VI века.

peuple Bantous (7 years ago)
Beautifull place

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Dranda Cathedral