According to the historian Grigol Hantsteli informations, the Opiza Monastery was founded in the 5th century with the initiative of Vahtang Gorgasali. The monastery was apparently renovated in the 8th century after Arab attacks. As a matter of fact, it is understood from the inscription on the church that King Ashot, who rebuilt Vahtang Gorgasali's castle in Ardanuç and the surrounding city and made it his capital, had four years of repair and renovation work carried out in the Opiza Monastery.
See:
- Tao-Klarceti - Tarihsel ve Kültürel Anıtlar Kataloğu (Gürcüce), (Editör) Buba Kudava, (Yazarlar) Nestan Bagauri, Zurab Batiaşvili, İrma Beridze, Buba Kudava, Nikoloz Jğenti, Goça Saitidze, Natia Hizanişvili, 2018, Tiflis, s. 37