The church carries the name of St. Gabriel Kikodze, bishop of Imereti, who lived in the nineteenth century and was canonised by the Georgian Church. For Imereti this is a homegrown figure: the bishop served in this very region.
Tsitsagiantkari is a small village in Vani Municipality, north-west of Vani, away from the tourist flows of western Imereti. Dedicating a village church to a local saint sounds like a mark of the region remembering its own pastor rather than a transfer of a nationwide tradition.
The dedication itself suggests the church is recent or renewed: veneration of St. Gabriel spread mainly over the last decades. Come with that understanding. Dress soberly, women bring a headscarf.
📜 Facts
- A church in the name of St. Gabriel Kikodze, bishop of Imereti
- Tsitsagiantkari village, Vani Municipality, Imereti
- A dedication to a local saint rather than a nationwide one
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark: the lowland road north-west of Vani; the village lies off the main route
- For navigation tap Build Route
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