Jvartamaghleba translates as the Elevation of the Cross, and the church of Gantiadi carries exactly that dedication. The feast falls in autumn and in Georgian tradition closes the working year in the fields. The village name speaks too: gantiadi means dawn.
Gantiadi stands in the Dmanisi hills, and less than a kilometre away lies Javakhi, so the churches of the two villages effectively face each other across a gully. Georgia has several villages of this name, and this is not the only Gantiadi. It is important not to confuse the church with the Elevation of the Cross monastery near Batumi: the dedication is the same, but here we have a village parish without a monastic community. The century of building is unknown.
The churchyard is open and can be approached on almost any day. Do not expect a priest to be permanently present, and the usual rules apply: covering clothing, a headscarf for women, quiet inside.
📌 In brief
- An Elevation of the Cross church, hence the Georgian name Jvartamaghleba
- The Dmanisi hills, with the village of Javakhi less than a kilometre away
- Not the Elevation of the Cross monastery near Batumi but a village parish
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark - the village of Gantiadi north-east of Dmanisi; the turning is off the district road
- The Build Route button will take you to the spot
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