For dating the Old Church of Vachnadziani Monastery

In Vachnadziani monastery, near the famous 9th c. domed church, eastern part of the dome less church is preserved, which, based on the material available in the first half of the 20th c., was supposedly identified as a “three-church basilica” and dated to the early period. Based on the current data, middle tripartite composition with lateral wings should rather be a three-aisled basilica (narrowness of the lateral parts of the central core, lack of pilasters on the lateral walls of pantophobia). At the same time, existence of the eastern entrances, which finds analogies in Tbilisi Anchiskhati (early 6th c.) and Dzveli Gavazi (6th c.), as well as in Constantinople
(churches of St. John the Studied and of St. Sophia) and Thessaloniki (basilica of St. Demetrius) makes it possible to date the church to the 5th-6th cc., rather – 5th c.; introduction of additional lateral wings is also characteristic of this epoch (Bolnisi Sion, Urbnisi, Anchiskhati). It should also be taken into consideration that flourishing of this region takes place in late 5th c., in the reign of St. King Vakhtang Gorgasali.