Kumurdo
     

The episcopal church of  Kumurdo  is in a few kilometres from Vardzia. It is famous as the one of the Ist historical monument of the Ist century.

It's 12 km. from the regional capital, on the slopes. There are many detailed scripts on the walls. One of which tells that the basement of the church was created "by the help of the Lord", Ioane the Bishop "by the hands of a sinner Zakotsari" (the builder) during the reign of the King Leon "Choronicon 184, May, Saturday". Choronicon 184 is equal to 964 year. Leon was the king of Abkhazia and it's clear that the province of Javakheti was under its control in the middle years of the X c. Other scripts on the walls are prayers for the builders, also they tell about the South Gallery construction in the period of Bagrat IV (1027-1072), also about reconstruction in the XVI c. The sizes of the church are 29x20 m. the diameter of the Dome is about 9 m. the height is about 15.3 m.