These are ruins, and that must be said at once: the building is not in use, no services are held here, and only remains of the walls survive. Coming here makes sense for the place itself rather than for visiting a church in the ordinary sense.
Two coincidences attach to the name of this site. It is called a Gavazi church of Saint George, although Gavazi lies a dozen kilometres away, and this is already the third such case in the area. The ruins are also known as a Davit Gareja church, but they have no connection with the famous cave monastery on the Azerbaijani border: the Gareja tradition was revered across all of Kakheti, and dedications in its honour are met far beyond the desert itself.
There is no fence around the ruins and they can be approached freely, but the approach is unpaved and turns soft in rain. Treat the remaining walls with care: the structure is fragile. Dress with shoulders and knees covered.
📍 In brief
- Disused ruins: no services and no reception of visitors here
- The surroundings of Akhalsopeli north-east of Gurjaani, an unpaved approach
- This is neither the cave complex of Davit Gareja nor a church in Gavazi itself
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark - the surroundings of Akhalsopeli north-east of Gurjaani, an unpaved approach
- A route is built with the Build Route button
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