The name of the church parses into two parts: gori is a hill or rise, jvari a cross. Gorisjvari reads as the cross on the hill, and names of this kind in Georgia usually point to the position of a building above the surrounding land rather than to a dedication to a particular saint.
This is another church site of Akhshani: a church of Saint Nicholas also stands in the surroundings, while the name of another building relates to neighbouring Arashenda. The village lies south-west of Akhmeta, in the foothill belt between the Alazani valley and the climb to the Pankisi valley.
The church keeps no fixed schedule and can be approached freely. It stands on a rise away from the village, so the last stretch runs uphill. Dress with shoulders and knees covered, a headscarf for women.
📜 Facts
- A parish church; Gorisjvari reads as the cross on the hill
- A rise near Akhshani, south-west of Akhmeta
- The name points to the position of the building rather than to a dedication
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark - the rise near the village of Akhshani south-west of Akhmeta
- A route is built with the Build Route button
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