St. Andrew Church in Sarpi, Adjara: History and Route

In mountainous Adjara, you can see the most beautiful places of Georgia: mountains, gorges, rivers and waterfalls, abundant vegetation, clear sea.

And what to see in Georgia for those who are interested in the history of Christianity? The state takes great care to preserve ancient temples and monasteries. New cathedrals are also being built.

For example, in the village of Sarpi, near the Georgian-Turkish border, in 2008-2012, a church named after St. Andrew the First-Called was built. A small temple carries a serious symbolic burden, because it stands on the border of Christian and Muslim states.

The uniqueness of the church is that ancient Georgian paintings and ornaments are painted on its walls. The frescoes in the destroyed temples on the territory of Tao-Klarjeti (modern Turkey) are taken as a basis.

The church is cross-domed. The tradition of building such churches came from Byzantium, such an architectural system was developed in the countries of the Christian East and in Russia was fundamental.

The area around the church is landscaped, surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and a hedge. The paths are tiled, lawns are decorated.

It is no coincidence that the church bears the name of the Apostle Andrew. There is a legend that the path of St. Andrew the First-Called in ancient Georgia began from here, he brought Christian teaching to these lands, built the first temple and ordained Georgian priests.

Other sights of Georgia located in these places also remind of this event. A kilometer from the village of Sarpi there is a sculpture of Andrew the First-Called and a waterfall named after the saint.