This church carries five names at once, a record for the list. The main one gives the dedication to Saint George. The second, the Devidze church, points to family ownership. The next three differ only in the spelling of one toponym: Kuiriskhevi, Kviriskhevi, Kvirtakhevi. And the fifth stands apart: mzis eklesia, the Church of the Sun.
What lies behind that last name is not explained. It may refer to the orientation of the building, to a local legend or to something else, and we will not guess: we give the name and leave the explanation open. Shubani lies in western Imereti south of Kutaisi, and the same village holds a church of the Presentation of the Mother of God. The century of building is not established.
The parish is rural and services are infrequent. Dress modestly, women wear a headscarf. Both village churches are easy to see in one visit.
📜 Of interest
- Five names for one church, including the family name Devidze and the Church of the Sun
- Western Imereti, the village of Shubani south of Kutaisi
- Three of the five names differ only in the spelling of one toponym
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark - the village of Shubani in western Imereti, south of Kutaisi
- The Build Route button will take you to the spot
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