Lykhny, the ancient capital of Abkhazian princedom, is a village in the vicinities of Gudauta. In the village centre you will find the majestic Lykhny Nativity Cathedral of the 10 th century. The cathedral has been working all this time except for the period of 1945-1955
The cathedral territory is surrounded with a low stone enclosure. Right behind it there stands a heavy stone two-level bell tower of the 19 th century. The cathedral looks very impressive: the cross-like structure, which is traditional for the Georgian cult buildings, is covered by a high drum of the tent-shaped dome in the centre. There are entrance porticoes with arch apertures from three sides of the temple. The temple has no external decor but inside it is decorated with the 14 th – century frescos (except for those in diaconicon – they are more ancient) and unusual icons. The eastern side of the temple comprises special ritual premises: the altar, the credence table and the diaconicon. The Lykhny temple is the place where Georgy Chachba-Shervashidze, the last sovereign prince of Abkhazia with whom the country joined Russia , is buried. |
