The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity: Sameba in Georgian, and one of the commonest dedications in the country. The definition reads straight from the name, and the church carries no second title.
Matani is one of the densest villages in Kakheti for sanctuaries: more than a dozen stand here. The village stretches along the foothills of the Akhmeta municipality, at the entrance to the Pankisi gorge, and its church sites are scattered over several kilometres: from this church to the southern ones the distance runs to more than five. A kilometre and a half away stands the church of Saint Barbara.
There is no fixed schedule of services, but the village is lively and it is usually possible to step inside. The rules are those of any working church. Walking round all the Matani sanctuaries takes a long time, so driving is wiser: the road along the village is paved, while the turnings to individual churches are unsurfaced.
๐ In brief
- A working church of the Holy Trinity, Sameba in Georgian
- The northern part of Matani, foothills at the entrance to the Pankisi gorge
- The church sites of the village are scattered over several kilometres
๐ Getting there
- Landmark: Matani village, Akhmeta municipality; about seven kilometres to Akhmeta
- A route is built with the Build Route button
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