Kobair Monastery

Kobayri Monastery is located in the Republic of Armenia, near Tumanyan, in the Debeda Gorge, on a mountain peak. It was originally founded in 1171 by Mariam, the daughter of the king of Tashir-Dzoraget, Kvirike II. Two centuries later, it was significantly destroyed by a strong earthquake. It is known for its unique frescoes, which are created in the Georgian and Byzantine tradition.

The temple houses the crypt of Queen Tamar's amirspasalari, Zakaria Mkhargrzeli, and his family. It is worth noting that in the vicinity of the Kobair Monastery there are also several other remains of Georgian architecture, which are completely inaccessible to visitors. The monastery itself is partially destroyed.

A number of Georgian inscriptions-epitaphs have been discovered on the territory of the monastery, which mention members of the Mkhargdelzi family - Ivane, Shanshe and his brother Ber Pimen, Shalva, Varami, Tamar and his concubine Sula Gurkeneli. The inscriptions also mention the daughter of Commander Jakeli, Rusudani, as well as the Mkhargdelzi winemaker Ivane and his wife Khatuna, and the Shanshe Mkhargdelzi scribe Mate and his wife Teona.

The Georgian inscriptions of Koberi are found on a number of buildings (the great church, the crypt, the bell tower-burial), the Armenian ones are found only on the small church. According to Leon Meliksed-Beg's conclusion, this is undoubtedly an indicator that the monastery experienced a turning point at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries in that it had previously been a residence of Armenian anti-Chalcedonian Monophysites, and later became a residence of Armenian-Georgian Chalcedonian Orthodox, which, among other things, in addition to the Georgian inscriptions, is confirmed by the construction of the altar of the main church in accordance with the requirements of the Chalcedonian rite, as well as the wall painting of the same church and the crypt with Georgian Asomtavruli inscriptions.

The name is derived from the Georgian word “kvab.” The building truly gives the impression of a monastery located in a cave, deep within a cave.