Khinotsminda village church

Cult buildings

Khino village of Adjara, surrounded by high ridges, is situated in Kobuleti municipality, at the beginning of Kintrishi Gorge, at the height of 1040 meters above sea level.

Along the edge of the village, on the right of the river, on the plain space, there are remains of an ancient monastery and adjacent constructions, which used to be a bishop’s centre of Khinotsminda. The general part of the complex was a main cathedral surrounded by a fence and ancillary buildings. Only fragments of the cathedral have survived to this day. The foundation of the cathedral and outbuildings are preserved, as well as the part of the walls. The height of the walls in some parts reaches about three meters. The plan of the monastery buildings is well-depicted.

The Khino Cathedral in Georgia is a unique structure with a design that sets it apart from other cathedrals in the region. The cathedral features a nave basilica with a wall that separates the side aisles from the central nave. The naves are split up into three parts, with two linear chapels to the west and corners in the apse. Access to the chapels is through small doors, and there is an arch at the entrance of the apse chapel in the north part. The cathedral has an extant one-meter-high fence containing the remains of various utility buildings. Such architectural constructions are rare in Georgia.

In the 18th century, the church faced extensive damage, worsened by a subsequent earthquake. Fast forward to the 1990s, when archaeologists embarked on an exploration of the Khino Monastery. Their careful excavations unveiled the facade stones, remnants of church utensils, and intricate details of exterior decorations. Presently, the restoration works of the Cathedral are managed by the Cultural Heritage Protection Agency of Adjara. Covering a distance of 27 kilometers from Kobuleti to Khino, visitors will find a well-maintained 12-kilometer asphalt road leading to Village Chakhati. From Chakhati to Tskhemvana Village, a sturdy ground road is accessible by all modes of transport. However, the journey from Tskhemvana to Khino requires a cross-country car. Utterly awe-inspiring, Khino visitors will be amazed by the splendor of Kintrishi Gorge, adorned with its lush deciduous forests, Colchis boxwood trees, gushing waterfalls, and ancient arch bridges.