Barakoni Church of the Mother of God ( ) , commonly known as Barakoni ( ბარაკონი ) , is an Orthodox church in Georgia , near the town of Ambrolauri , in the village of Tsesi of mountainous western province of Racha ( modern-day Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti ) . Barakoni was commissioned , in 1753 , by the local lord ( eristavi ) Rostom of Racha ( 1750-1769 ) from the architect Avtandil Shulavreli who is commemorated in the inscription of the eastern façade . It is a domed cruciform church and one of the last important monuments in the tradition of medieval Georgian architecture . The church was built of neatly trimmed stable stand stones and adorned with rich ornamentation . The church was closed and desecrated under the Bolshevik rule . It suffered further damage , though not serious , in the 1991 Racha earthquake , but was quickly repaired . Located on a top of a steep cliff , it overlooks Rioni River which is joined the Lukhuni River just below the mountain
1991 Racha earthquake
1991 Racha earthquake
Barakoni