Both temples appear to have been part of the larger settlement of Nekresi, but due to the lack of written sources and dense foliage covering the area its extent remains unknown.

These Christian establishments were founded not long after as a nearby located Zoroastrian shrine, the so-called Nekresi fire temple, was abandoned.

[3] Nodar Bakhtadze, who excavated Chabukauri, identifies the basilica with a church known from the early medieval Georgian chronicles to have been founded at Nekresi by King Trdat of Kartli (r. c. 394 – 406).

The main nave appears to have been damaged in an earthquake not long after the church's construction and part of its northeastern sector was converted into the south aisle of a new, smaller building.

To the northwest of the basilica there is a small apsed structure of unknown function, which was covered by a high-quality terracotta tile floor.