Dranda Cathedral, located near the town of Sukhumi, between two rivers and small Adzapsh Kodori village Dranda (Gulripshky district) - is the current council of the Abkhazian Orthodox Church.

Surrounded by cypress massive temple was built approximately in the VI Art. Its architecture is a cross-domed churches chetyrehstolpnym.

The eastern facade of the church exterior is decorated by three five-fold projection apses enclosing the altar and the side of the room. Crowned by the temple dome, which lies on the 16-hedral drum. The temple is illuminated by 36 huge windows. The interior of the cathedral was painted images of saints and paintings of biblical scenes. In 1860, the famous historian D. Bakradze, said that he saw a fresco in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration image and several frescoes that depicted the Savior and the saints. But over time, the frescoes were destroyed and have not been restored. Inside the cathedral you can see two marble tombs. One of them is under the throne, and the second - at the entrance to the western door.

In the Middle Ages was the residence of the bishop Dranda. Cathedral owned huge estates. During the years of Turkish rule Cathedral was badly damaged, but later it was restored several times. After all these restorations and reconstructions original appearance of the ancient temple has changed a lot, and not preserved, no painting.

In 1883, monks from the New Athos founded the cathedral monastery. The monastery operated a children's parochial school. The monastery was surrounded by orchards and vast vineyards and hill under the cathedral is a real underground town with caves, hiding places and galleries. By 1924 Dranda Cathedral of land passed into the possession of the collective farm. The living quarters housed administrative offices.

To date Dranda Cathedral undergoing restoration work to restore its original appearance.