The church stands about a kilometer northwest of the center of Akhasheni. Visitors describe it as very old, but there's no dating available from open sources, so the century is not specified in the description.
The church has had an unusual history. According to locals, the village elders restored it and then closed it to prevent further deterioration. You'll likely be unable to get inside, so you'll have to view it from the outside.
The name is a different story. Google's description of the site is machine-translated from Georgian, hence the odd "Sunday Animal": it's a literal translation of the word "kviratskhoveli," where "kvira" means Sunday and "tskhoveli" means alive. In Russian, such churches are called Resurrection Churches. The second part of the description, "ravenya," resembles a local nickname, but it hasn't been confirmed.
Akhasheni is teeming with churches. Besides this church, there's the 19th-century Trinity Church on the southern outskirts of the village and Svetitskhoveli Church to the west.
🕍 What to see
The old brickwork from the outside, the churchyard, and the surrounding Akhasheni vineyards.
💰 Free or paid
The exterior is free to view. Judging by reviews, the interior is closed.
