Rkoni Monastery, Rkonis Monastery, Rkonis church or Rkoni (Georgian: რკონის მონასტერი, რკონი or რკონის ეკლესია) is an ancient Georgian Orthodox monastery and church located in the Kaspi Municipality of the Shida Kartli province of Georgia. The monastery was built in the 7th century AD on the side of a mountain, the surrounding area is a valley with mountain chains on both sides covering most of the area which makes it hard to reach and very isolated. In the middle of the valley is the river Tedzami, since the monastery is on the left mountain chain (from a hiker's perspective) tourists have to cross the river by using the Rkoni bridge, a semicircular bridge made of stone that crosses the river onto the other mountain chain where the monastery is located. The surrounding area of the monastery is called Rkoni. Rkoni monastery is near the village of Chachubeti, 5.63 km (3.49 mi) southwest of the village and near a few other churches and monasteries like St. George church, Ikvi church, didi Ikvi St. George church and Saorbisi St. George church.
In the 12th–13th centuries, important trade and military-strategic roads connected Shida Kartli with Javakheti, Trialeti and the Middle East. In 1400, Tamerlane's armies raided the village and the surrounding churches and monasteries. In the 16th–17th centuries, Rkoni was still a well-fortified place, but it was becoming empty gradually. The monastery complex has been rebuilt many times, with three layers of construction: 7th, 13th-14th and 16th–17th centuries. In 1905, a workshop-laboratory was established in Rkoni, where weapons and explosive substances were made for the rebellion
History
Construction, 7th century AD
Rkoni Monastery was constructed in the 7th century AD (the exact year is unknown, but it is believed to be constructed somewhere between 642 and 645). The monastery was constructed for several purposes, at the time when the construction started, many army outposts were needed for the Arab invasion of Georgia so the building not only served the purpose of being a Georgian Christian Orthodox monastery for monks to pray in but also a military outpost to defend against the invaders. The monastery's high altitude and watchtower were also used to observe the nearby area and valley. The Rkoni fortress was also built Nearby at the entrance of the valley also for the purpose of defending against invaders. Rkoni monastery was also a good strategic location that was used for trading because it connected Shida Kartli to Javakheti, Trialeti and to Armenia and then the Middle East. The physical features of Rkoni made it hard for enemies to go through as it was covered with dense forests, hills, extremely rough terrain and a very narrow valley, Rkoni was built generally in a very isolated area. During the Arab invasion, civilians in the nearby area used the monastery as a refuge.
Construction of the Queen Tamar bridge, 11th century
The Queen Tamar bridge was a semicircular Stone Bridge that was built in the 11th century. The bridge was built on the two sides of the valley mountain chains for the purpose of crossing onto the other side where the monastery was, the supports were built to lean against a natural rocky foundations and was built from pieces of stones on a solution of lime, the stones and lime were brought from the river below which had a large amount. The bridge is 12.5 metres long and 2.2 metres wide. The bridge was named after Tamar of Georgia because she was believed to have owned a summer residence in that area.
7th–13th century
The three-nave basilica was from the second half of the 7th century, the Church of the Assumption. The columns' arches are almost semicircular. The church's roof is vaulted. Three entrances are present. There are pieces of artwork from various eras still present within. The main space's last remaining pieces date to the 12th century. On the south side of the door, which was painted in the late 10th century, there is also a depiction of a secular figure. The chapel's artwork is from the time of the feudal system. In the latter half of the 13th century, the monastery's gate was constructed. The exteriors of An attractive half-column arcade decorates the gate. decorations are used to embellish the window, arch, and column bases. The chapel in the hall dates from the second part of the thirteenth century. The chapel's façade are made of cut stone and embellished with carvings and beautiful arches.