In the 6th and 7th centuries, the
episcopal chair already existed in the territory of the church. In the list of episcopal departments from 602 to 610, the Tzayish
eparchy in
Lazika is mentioned. A modern
domed temple was built between the 13th and 14th centuries. It is known that from the 11th century to 1823 the diocese belonged to 20 bishops, among which the most important were Gurieli Malaquías (1612 - 1639) and Grigol Chikovani (1777 - 1823). In 1823, the Russian government abolished the bishop of Tsaishi and other bishoprics of Murel. From then until 1879 there was a monastery. The monastery was one of the main places for the dissemination of education since it had a school. With the arrival of the
Bolsheviks in Georgia, the monastery was closed and abandoned. In 1989, with the blessing of
Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Elijah II, the monastery was restored. From 1989 until his death, deacon Amiran Shengelia, who was buried near the south gate, was in charge of the temple. == See also ==