Rustavi Sioni

The Church of the Assumption in Rustavi (Georgian ყოვლადწმინდა ღვთისმშობლის მიძინების სახელობის ტაძარი ), better known as Rustawier Sioni Church (Georgian რუსთავის სიონი ) is a Georgian Orthodox church in the Georgian town of Rustavi. It was built in the years 2000 to 2011. The design is by Bessarion Menabde, Nikoloz Abashidze and Nikoloz Dadiani; Construction was led by Temur Burkiaschwili.

The Rustawier Sioni church was consecrated by the Archbishop of Rustavi and Marneuli Ioane on August 27, 2011. The next day, the 28th of August and the Assumption of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the first solemn service was held in the new church.

Building

The church was built as a cross-domed church with three apses in the east side. The main body of the church is surrounded by a semicircular gallery. The church is 19 meters high. In the style Rustawier Sioni Church is modeled on the Georgian church buildings from the 11th to the 12th century. It is similar to the churches in Nikorzminda, Kazchi and Bana (now in Turkey). The ornaments that decorate the walls correspond to the medieval Georgian traditional ornaments from the various churches. The Rustawier Sioni church is covered with stone slabs. In the walls and vaults of the seismic zones are installed, which was also characteristic of the medieval Georgian architecture.

In the construction of Rustawier Sioni Church no modern technology was used; as building material only of stone and mortar was used. The lime mortar was prepared according to the ancient custom with egg yolk. According to the architects, the strength takes this traditional lime mortar to gradually and still keep the building for centuries. The Rustawier Sioni Church is the first Georgian church building for several centuries, which was built according to the traditional customs.

The construction work was started in 2000. The stones of which the church is built, come from the village Nitschbissi in Mtskheta. This stone was also used in the construction of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Anchiskhati Church.