Dranda Cathedral
Нанҳәа иазку Дранда-ныха
დრანდის ტაძარი
Dranda Cathedral
Religion
AffiliationGeorgian Orthodox
ProvinceAbkhazia[1]
Location
LocationGeorgia (country) Dranda, Gulripshi District, Abkhazia, Georgia
Dranda Cathedral is located in Abkhazia
Dranda Cathedral
Shown within Abkhazia
Dranda Cathedral is located in Georgia
Dranda Cathedral
Dranda Cathedral (Georgia)
Geographic coordinates42°52′27″N 41°09′44″E / 42.87417°N 41.16222°E / 42.87417; 41.16222
Architecture
TypeRadial
StyleByzantine, Georgian; Cathedral[2]
FounderPossibly Justinian I
GroundbreakingPossibly early-mid 6th century.
CompletedPossibly 551

Dranda Cathedral (Abkhaz: Нанҳәа иазку Дранда-ныха, Georgian: დრანდის ტაძარი) 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 Orthodox Catholicate 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

  1. The political status of Abkhazia is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence from Georgia in 1992, Abkhazia is formally recognised as an independent state by 5 UN member states (two other states previously recognised it but then withdrew their recognition), while the remainder of the international community recognizes it as as de jure Georgian territory. Georgia continues to claim the area as its own territory, designating it as Russian-occupied territory.
  2. Mariam Didebulidze, Cultural Heritage of Abkhazia (Apkhazeti)

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