Nino Bagrationi Giorgi Bagrationi	Giorgi Bagrationi Gia Shervashidze

Patara Vanki is a hall-type church with a large apse, which preserves almost intact. Faced with neatly hewn stone, it is pierced by a large window in the centre, which is covered with earth because of the landslide that affected the building from the east. On both sides are located tall semi-circular niches terminating in semi-domes and incorporating smaller niches. The apse being semi-circular, the quarter of the sphere is covered with a conch which stands almost intact together with its arch. Although the apse is narrower than the nave, it is quite low,wide and well-proportioned; the length of the hall twice exceeds its width. Circular pilasters, topped with roughly carved plain capitals, projecting from the lateral walls divide the hall into two parts. East and west corners have three steps each terminating in the cornices characterised by the same motifs. The vault is ruined as well as the semi-circular massive pilasters and the south, north and west walls. According to E. Takaishvili, the west wall used to be pierced by a window ‘the semi-circular shape and the inner section of which is divided by means of white and yellow colours, like a fan’ (T. 1907, p. 339). The motif was widespread in the 10^th century Tao architecture.

The church façades are plastered with neatly hewn grey basalt blocks. The roof also used to be of stone. Whether the church had relief carvings cannot be ascertained, though the south door tympanum stone with inscriptions is destroyed.

Annexed to the main hall is a small hall-type church faced with neatly hewn stone and covered with a double-pitched stone roof. The small chapel has a door on the west. The sanctuary apse is semi-circular and the window is flanked by a small deep niche on each side. The hall does not have a south wall and abuts the north façade of the large church. In addition to the chancel, north and west walls have one window each. The building is covered with a cylindrical roof without supporting arches.

The exterior of the church had a cornice decorated with a geometrical ornament which is indicated by a stone that, according to the locals, had falled from the west façade and is now lying on the site. The door used to be topped with a carved stone cross, which is now lost.

Judging by the quality of construction and the adornment of the west window, the church can be dated to the 10^th century.

Patara Vanki church bears several inscriptions all of which are in asomtavruli (majuscule) script. Some of them are carved on stone, while others are painted.