Bedia Cathedral Photo: Bedia Cathedral

Bedia Cathedral, located in the Abkhazian village of Agubedia (Tkvarcheli district) is an Orthodox Church and one of the main religious attractions of this region. The temple is among the most important examples of Georgian architecture Dating back to the early middle ages.

The Cathedral was built at the end of the second half of X century in honor of the blachernitissa icon of the Mother of God, the Abkhazian king Bagrat III. The architectural outline of the temple is very close to the dome. The walls of the Bedia Cathedral is built of hewn stone. In the XIII century was carried out major restoration of the temple, in which were built the facade and the dome.

The main treasure of the Cathedral is the Golden chalice. Up to 30-ies of the XXth century bowl was in the Ilori Church, after it was transferred to the local history Museum in the city of Sukhumi. He is currently kept in the Museum of arts of Tbilisi. Unfortunately, a Golden chalice, has not survived to the present day fully, it was only on the upper part. Carved Georgian alphabet on the edges of the chalice inscription reads as follows: "In commemoration of the completion of construction in 999 king Bagrat III and his mother Guranduht presented Bedia Cathedral Golden Cup, which is decorated with relief figures of the virgin Mary, the Savior, the apostles Peter and Paul and the other apostles, and evangelists.

Himself Abkhazian king Bagrat III was the first king of the United Georgian Kingdom, which arose in the late second half of the Xth century, with its capital in Kutaisi and United in his composition of the Abkhazian Kingdom and several provinces of feudal Georgia. Bagrat III was buried in the Bedia Cathedral in 1014,

The temple is located in the canonical subordination of the Abkhazian eparchy of the Georgian Orthodox Church. In XVII century the Cathedral was closed. Church service was resumed only in the XIX century Now in the temple undergoing restoration.

Bedia Cathedral is surrounded by poorly maintained household and ceremonial buildings on a hill, offering amazing views of the surroundings.

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Bedia Cathedral