Tsromi, Church of the Ascension
Location: | Tsromi, Khashuri Municipality |
Place: | Georgia, Shida Kartli |
Dedication: | Ascension of Christ |
Category: | Built |
Type: | Domed Church, Croix Inscrite/Cross-in-square |
Date/Period: | 620s-630s |
Renovation/Reconstruction: | 11th-12th cc.; 16th c. |
Layers of the Murals: | One layer |
The church was built on the site where the St. Razhden the Protomartyr was tortured and originally buried. The structure was damaged and restored several times; in 1940 the earthquake caused the extant fragment of the dome rebuilt in the 16th century to collapse; the structure was restored in 1949, 1959, 1974-1975, 2020.
A construction lapidary inscription is outlined on the south façade: Ⴜ(ႫႨႣႠ)Ⴍ ႤႩ(ႪႤႱႨ)ႠႭ | Ⴑ(ႲႤ)Ⴔ(ႠႬႭ)Ⴆ ჃႡႠ(ႲႭႱ)Ⴈ | Ⴘ(ႤႨႼႷႠႪ)Ⴄ – Holy Church, have mercy on Stephanoz Vipatos). Some scholars suggest that it must be governor of Kartli Stepanoz II that is mentioned in the inscription; construction of the church is also associated with his name.