Ateni Sioni Church

The Atenier Sioni Church (Georgian ატენის სიონი Atenis Sioni ) is a Georgian Orthodox church in the Georgian region of Inner Kartli, in the municipality of Gori, about ten kilometers south of the town of Gori, near the village Ateni. The church is located in the valley of the River Tana (Georgian ტანა ), which is not only known for its historical monuments, but also landscapes and wine. The name " Sioni " refers to Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The Sioni church dates from the 7th century.

Sioni is a cross-domed church ( 24X19.22 m. ). It is built of hewn rectangular greenish gray stone. Model for the Atenier Sioni Church, was the former Djvari Monastery in Mtskheta.

The walls of the church contain the first inscriptions with Nuschuri or Nuscha - Chuzuri, an early version of the Georgian alphabet from the year 835 first examples of Mchedruli, today's Georgian font, can likewise be found in the Atenier Sioni Church; they come from the 980s. One of the inscriptions on the church commemorates Adarnasse, the first documented Georgian Bagratid, father of Ashot I, the founder of the new royal dynasty of Georgia.

Near the church are the ruins of the medieval fortress town Ateni are ( today's villages Didi and Patara Ateni Ateni ).