The church of the Virgin Mary stands on the northwestern edge of Balichi in Bolnisi Municipality, in the cemetery on a basalt plateau. In the village it is called Jedzviani after the locality. The building is laid of large stones of the local rock, with small stone used to even out the vault.
The entrance is on the south and dressed with an architrave, and one window is cut in each of the west, east and south walls. An early medieval stele is set into the masonry to the right of the door, and it is the oldest stone in the building.
A three line Asomtavruli inscription with scratched marks survives on the right jamb of the main door. The first two lines, which read better than the rest, were deciphered by Devi Berdzenishvili: they ask mercy for a man called the Golden Faced. The third line has not yet been read. The inscription is dated to the 12th and 13th centuries, while the church itself is assigned to the late Middle Ages.
💡 Tip
- The village calls the church Jedzviani after the locality
- An early medieval stele is set to the right of the door
- The Asomtavruli inscription on the door jamb is not fully read
🚗 Getting there
- Balichi village, Bolnisi Municipality, Kvemo Kartli
- The Build Route button will take you to the spot
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