Katskhi monastery

Katskhi Nativity of the Savior Monastery კაცხის მაცხოვრის შობის სახელობის მონასტერი
Katskhi Monastery
Shown within Georgia (country)
Basic information
Location	Katskhi, 3.5 miles from the town of Chiatura, Chiatura District, Imereti Province (Mkhare),  Georgia
Geographic coordinates	42°16′10″N 43°12′47″E / 42.2694°N 43.2131°E / 42.2694; 43.2131Coordinates: 42°16′10″N 43°12′47″E / 42.2694°N 43.2131°E / 42.2694; 43.2131
Affiliation	Georgian Orthodox Church
District	Argveti District (historic) Chiatura District (present)
Region	Caucasus
Country	Georgia
Status	Active
Architectural description
Architectural type	Triple-tiered domed octagonal plan
Architectural style	Georgian; Monastery
Founder	Rati, a nobleman of the house of Liparitids (Baguashi)
Funded by	Liparitid (Baguashi) family
Groundbreaking	ca. 988
Completed	1010–1014
Specifications
Length	13.5 m
Width	12 m
Height (max)	17.5 m
Dome(s)	1; rests upon the third tier drum

The Katskhi Monastery of Nativity of the Savior (Georgian: კაცხის მაცხოვრის შობის სახელობის მონასტერი), more commonly known as the Katskhi Monastery (კაცხის მონასტერი) is a medieval monastery in Georgia, located in the village of Katskhi near the town of Chiatura. It was built at the behest of the Baguashi family in the period of 988–1014. The church building is noted for a hexagonal design and rich ornamentation. Closed down by the Soviet government in 1924, the monastery was revived in 1990 and is now operated by the Eparchy of Sachkhere and Chiatura of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

The Katskhi monastery is a octagonal building of more complex design than other similar polygonal Georgian monuments such as Gogiuba, Kiagmis-alty, Oltisi, and Bochorma. The exterior of the church features three gradually narrowing cylindrical levels formed by the faceted gallery, the main body of the church, and the drum of the dome.

The six apses are inscribed into the outer polyhedron and surrounded by an ambulatory from all sides. An inscription from the ambulatory mentions the certain "Tskhovreba, daughter of Ioann, Duke of Dukes". A single spacious interior compartment around the subdome bay includes radially oriented semi-circular apses. One of these, the altar apse, projects outward prominently due to its large bema. The drum of the dome is also faceted. Each facet of the main body of the church as well as that of the dome and gallery terminate in a pediment with three lines of polygonal cornices.

The building was richly ornated, but the decoration of two upper tiers was lost in the process of the 1854 restoration. Of note is a large composition in relief at the southern vestibule of the gallery, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, featuring a cross supported by four angels.