Kvajvari

A kvajvari (Georgian: ქვაჯვარი, romanized: kvajvari) is a monumental stele in the shape of a cross in the Georgian Orthodox Christian tradition. The word kvajvari is composed of the words "kva" (ქვა), i.e. stone, and ‘jvari’ (ჯვარი), meaning cross, resulting "cross stone". The kvajvari steles became prominent after the christianization of the Georgian kingdom of Iberia in the early 4th century, during the reign of King Mirian III. Dozens of medieval kvajvari slabs survive to this day, but most of them are considerably damaged and fragmental. The tradition of erecting monumental crosses in the open air was widespread in Georgia, as it was similarly practiced in the Holy Land and in Eastern Christendom. The earliest kvajvari stelas are dated 5th century. Many medieval kvajvari stelas depicted the Bolnisi cross. A kvajvari stele was carved and erected with or without a pedestal.


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