Location: Georgia, the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, Gulripshi municipality, village of Dranda.
Construction inside the complex: the domed church.
Historical- architectural description: Dranda church is the monument of the 6th and 8th centuries. Dranda was built by the order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great was built in 551 and in the beginning was under the authority of Constantinople Church, the eparchy of Abazgia.
In the 8th century, Dranda became a center of Abkhazia that means a patriarchal Eparchy centre of Western Georgia, which existed here till the 17th century. The last bishop of Dranda Gabriel was forced to go to Jerusalem in the result of Abazian and Apsarian invasions.
In the 8th century, Dranda became a center of Abkhazia that means a patriarchal Eparchy centre of Western Georgia, which existed here till the 17th century. The last bishop of Dranda Gabriel was forced to go to Jerusalem as the result of Abazian and Apsarian invasions.
In 1637, the church was completely burnt and robbed by the Turkish conquerors. In 1878, during the Russian-Turkish war, the church was burned for the second time and frescos were destroyed. From 1880 year, under the Russian colonial authority period, was implemented “Russification” of Dranda together with the other churches. The Russian style, onion-shaped dome, was installed onto Dranda in order to destroy the Georgian historic trace.
In 1928, the communists abolished the church, the part of which was transformed into the building of penitentiary facility, prison, and the rest of the space was turned onto the district committee of Gulripshi region and the boarding school.
In the 1970s, restoration of Dranda Church was implemented by the leadership of Georgian professor Tsintsadze and it regained its original appearance.
The church is built of brick and cobble-stone. Based on its building technique, plan and proportions it shows affinity with the samples of the Byzantine architecture. In the cross plan the shape of a three arms are rectangular. The entrance on this lockers are from south and north arms. From the outside cross is inserted in the rectangular form, the east side has a faceted apse. At the same time, builders of the Dranda church, seem most likely to be also familiar with the Georgian churches, namely, the church of Holy Cross in Mtskheta, or any other similar structure – otherwise, no explanation can be found to the minor arches on the upper part of the east façade, uniting three protruded apses; analogies of this motif can be found on the quoted churches only.
Current condition: The territory is currently occupied by Russia, on account which it is impossible to study and to conduct the necessary works. But we have information that, in 2011, the de facto government of Abkhazia gave 40 churches, including Dranda, to the so-called “Abkhazian Church” in unlimited use. After its occupation, it was painted with white color at the Russian-style, inserted approximately ten silver-painted windows, in this process the walls of the church were executed; CCTV (contemporary, Video surveillance) system was installed; the soil around church was completely removed, so that the archaeological research has not taken place. Reconstruction of the church destroyed unique baptize fonts, which date back to the 7th century.
Dranda Church has been given the status of national importance monument.
