Nino Bagrationi Giorgi Bagrationi	Giorgi Bagrationi Gia Shervashidze

Grigol Khandzteli Monastery, the earliest of the twelve monasteries, was founded by Father Grigol (Gregory of Khandzta) in the late 8th century upon his arrival to Khandzta. The hagiographic work by Giorgi Merchule provides detailed information about the monastery.

The first wooden church at Khandzta was begun by fathers from Opiza. Yet before that time a hermit monk Khuedios lived in solitude on this cliffy and inaccessible site.

The monastic grounds are highly remarkable for numerous gardens, terraces, water pipes and reservoirs, multitude of monastic buildings, several churches and a bell-tower. None of the churches bulit by the first brotherhood survives.

The largedomed church is aninscribed cross on plan. It is provided with apses on the east and pastophoria.

The church is remarkable for hiqh quality of construction. The building masonry consists of neatly hewn stones fixed in mortar. The transition from the central bay to the dome is effected through squinches which are notable for their craftsmanship. The church is plain from the outside the main decorative element being its architectural solution, namely the so-called umbrella-shaped roof. The only embellishement is a cross patterned in red stone on the east, which was a more symbolic than a decorative feature.

The church was built by Amona in the beginning of the 10th century under Eristavt-Eristav Ashot Kukh  († 918) and Gurgen Eristavt-Eristav (†941).

The complex location of the church, the damages brought by gold seekers, long neglect and severe natural conditions resulted in the destruction of the building. The dome collapsed several years ago.

The church above the spring is located on the road leading to the center of the complex. It is a small church. To the east a small spring is to be found. The church is built of neatly hewn blocks which (especially the ones on the lower level) appear immense is relation to to the scale of the building. The stones are arranged in uneven courses. The spring is located in the arched niche on the facade adorned with plastered crosses. The interior became filled with stone as a result of the collapse of the vault.

The church must be the oldest building of the monastery.

A bell-tower is located next to a large church with which is shows similarity in terms of architectural forms. It is a double-storey building the upper part of which is a belfry with eight arches designed for accommodating rings. The upper part, unlike the lower level, is made of neatly-hewn stone. The interior of the dome of the belfry preserves several inscriptions. According to one of the inscriptions, the bell-tower was built by Markoz. It corresponds with the note found in the manuscripts of Mount Sinai, which also mention Markoz as the builder of the church.

The bell-tower appears to have been built no earlier than the 14th century.