The shrine is marked in the high mountains, far from permanent villages. There is no separate building here: the place is marked by stacked stones and a levelled area, as is customary in the mountain regions of eastern Georgia.
Mountain shrines here serve not a parish but a clan or the community of several villages, and people gather at them on particular dates. The nearest church site is marked more than eight kilometres away. The climb takes time, the road is unpaved, and in winter no one comes up here.
Keep a restrained manner: for nearby villages this is a living place of veneration. The site remains part of the everyday life of the area, and that deserves respect.
Tips
- Come in the morning while the light is soft.
- Check the forecast, as rain makes the approach slippery.
- Loud conversation is not welcome here.
Getting there
- The last stretch runs along a dirt road that softens after rain.
- Plan the visit together with nearby stops, as there is no dedicated transport here.
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