Barakoni Church

Barakoni Church of the Mother of God Georgian : Baraconi Cathedral , commonly known as Barakoni Baracon , is an Orthodox church in Georgia , near the town of Ambrolauri , in the village of Tsesi of the mountainous western province of Racha modern- day Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti . Barakoni was commissioned, in 1753, by the local lord eristavi Rostom of Racha 1750-1769 from the architect Avtandil Shulavreli who is commemorated in the inscription of the eastern façade. It is a domed cruciform church and one of the last important monuments in the tradition of medieval Georgian.architecture.

The church was built of neatly trimmed stable stand stones and adorned with rich ornamentation. The church was closed and desecrated under the Bolshevik rule. It suffered further damage, though not serious, in the 1991 Racha earthquake, but was quickly repaired. Located on a top of a steep cliff, it overlooks Rioni River which is joined the Lukhuni River just below the mountain.