Undoped and Co$^{2+}$-doped Zn$_{4}$GeSe$_{6}$ single crystals were grown by the Chemical Transport Reaction method using iodine as a transporting agent. The crystal structure of these compounds determined by X-ray diffraction analysis was monoclinic structure. The direct energy gaps of these compounds were measured and the temperature dependence of the optical energy gap were closely investigated over the temperature range 10-290K. The temperature dependence of the optical energy gap is well presented by the Varshni equation. Also the optical absorption peaks of Zn$_{4}$GeSe$_{6}$ :Co$^{2+}$ single crystal observed, centered at 5437, 6079, 7142, 12950, 13462, 14786 and 15735 $cm^{-1}$ /, can be explained in terms of the electronic transitions of Co$^{2+}$ ions located at Td symmetry of the host materials. According to the crystal-field theory, the crystal-field, Racah and spin-orbit coupling parameters obtained from the absorption bands are given by Dq = 361$cm^{-1}$ /, B = 655$cm^{-1}$ / and .lambda. = 284$cm^{-1}$ / respectively.ively.