Didi Ateni Virgin Mary Church: 8th-Century Temple near Gori

When visiting the village of Didi Ateni, you can visit the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The church is a domed structure built in the 8th century. Cobblestone was used as the building material, and green stone was used on the facades. In the 10th century, builders completed the cladding of the church dome using green stone, also known as flaking stone.

Each room has one window. The altar window is made of hewn stone and ends in a beautiful, small, arched horseshoe. Since the dome is 1.5 times wider than the cross's cavities, this increases the area under the dome.

The church has two entrances: south and west. Several unique and very ancient stones are present—inscriptions are carved into them, but unfortunately, they are illegible due to damage. On the west side, on the door's tympanum, one can read a very interesting and mysterious inscription left by our ancestors.

Photo source: georgiantravelguide.com