The domed temple represents a monument of Georgian architecture, distinguished by its complex composition. Its artistic importance is comparable with
Jvari Monastery in
MtskhetasaIt is the basis of the further development of Georgian church architecture of the Middle Ages. The temple is a ″drawn-inside cross″ type; the basis of its plan is an equiangular cross. It is the first Georgian church where the dome rests on four free pillars. It also gave freedom to walls and opened new perspectives in the
Georgian architecture. The exterior is modestly decorated. The eastern facade is cut with two deep triangular niches. Such niches by the side of the
apse appeared for the first time in Tsromi to later become characteristic Georgian temple decoration. The interior is illuminated through high windows in the dome and each cross arm. The temple decoration is scant. The conch of the temple altar was decorated with contemporaneous mosaic, depicting
Christ and two
apostles, the reserved fragments of which are kept in the
Museum of Art of Georgia since 1930s. The
prothesis and the
sacristy are in eastern part, on the altar sides. Each of them has cross-shaped and octangular vaults. The stairs in the northern corner lead to the choir above the
narthex, meant for nobility, women and singers. == Literature ==