Ikorta church

The Ikort’a church is a centrally planned, domed rectangular design, with a semicircular apse on the east.

The dome, with 12 windows pierced round its tall base, rests upon the corners of the altar and two hexangular (octangular by other sources[1]) pillars.

Central motive of the eastern façade with interconnected cross, rosette, framed window and two rombs, and two deep niches on the sides with ornamentation in upper part, are also the 11th century inventions.

There are a solar clock and an ancient Georgian asomtavruli inscription on the western and eastern walls, telling about the construction year and the names of contractors.

[2] The solar clock has a semicircle, twelve sectors on it with letters, indicating hours, and a hole for a stick.

During the 1991 Racha earthquake, a large portion of the dome collapsed, and inflicted significant damage on the church.

These noblemen were tortured to death for having revolted against the Persian domination of Kakheti (eastern Georgia) in 1659, and were eventually canonized by the Georgian Orthodox church.