The church of the Virgin Mary stands in Eshtia village in Ninotsminda Municipality. The Armenian church is laid of tuff blocks, has a semicircular apse under a recessed roof, an entrance on the west and an arched door. Arches run along the facades: three each on the east, south and north and two on the west.
The decoration is sparse. On the long walls it comes down to a short straight cornice above the windows, and on the west wall to stone surrounds of a different colour from the door and the pilasters of a two tier belfry set directly on the roof of the church. The roof was originally wooden and hipped, and during rebuilding it was replaced entirely by an arched one.
The semicircular sanctuary is covered by a conch and separated from the hall by several steps, with small side chambers flanking it. The arches of the sanctuary and of these chambers rest on columns with capitals at the corners, and the side arches are purely decorative. Two tier wooden galleries are made in the western part of the hall.
💡 Tip
- A two tier belfry set directly on the roof
- The wooden hipped roof was replaced by an arched one
- Two tier wooden galleries in the western part of the hall
🚗 Getting there
- Eshtia village, Ninotsminda Municipality, Samtskhe Javakheti
- The Build Route button will take you to the spot
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