Ahaldaba (Yeni Rabat) Church Ahaldaba Church, also known as the Yeni Rabat Church, is a medieval Georgian religious structure located in the village of Longothevi—now called Bulanık—approximately 17 kilometers from the Ardanuç District. It serves as the main building of the Ahaldaba Monastery, which is also referred to as the Longothevi Monastery. The church was originally constructed in the 10th to 11th centuries, during the era of the Georgian Kingdom. It is thought that the Ahaldaba Church was restored in the 12th century under the direction of Anton Glonistavisdze, who served as the chief vizier to Queen Tamar. The church is designed with a free-cross layout, where the central dome forms the core of the structure, and four arms extend outward from it. It includes two main entrances, and the most distinctive elements are the arcades adorning its facades. The southern facade stands out with its intricate and detailed ornamentation. On the southern side of the Ahaldaba Church, there was once believed to be an adjoining structure, though no physical traces of it remain today. The medieval architecture of the region is distinguished by its use of triangular niches, which mirror the interior layout on the exterior. Interestingly, incorporating triangular niches in the drum of the dome was uncommon in Tao-Klarjeti architecture. Tao-Klarjeti refers to a historical and cultural area spanning northeastern Turkey and southwestern Georgia, covering the Chorokhi and Kura river basins along with the upper reaches of the Aras river. Ahaldaba Church is particularly notable for having a higher number of windows than wall openings, with decorative plant-themed reliefs carved into stones along both sides of the building. Additionally, two distinct stones bearing inscriptions—one in Georgian and the other in Armenian—can be found on the site. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply reach out via WhatsApp. We’ll be happy to assist you as soon as possible.