The church of St. Joseph belongs to a Catholic community. Samtskhe-Javakheti is the region of Georgia where Catholics have lived without interruption for several centuries, and parishes here are as ordinary a part of daily life as Orthodox churches elsewhere.
The village of Arali lies north of Akhaltsikhe. The church is recognisable at once: a plain basilica without lavish decoration, tall windows, a deliberately calm interior. The differences from an Orthodox church show at the threshold: rows of pews, a raised altar, no iconostasis. Arali has another church too, of Ermisa, a couple of minutes away.
The parish is active and mass follows its own schedule. Sober clothing is expected, silence is kept during mass, and photography inside is agreed first. The yard is usually open during daylight hours.
⛪ On site
- A working Catholic parish in the name of St. Joseph
- Arali village north of Akhaltsikhe, Samtskhe-Javakheti
- A plain basilica with pews and a raised altar, without an iconostasis
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark: Arali village north of Akhaltsikhe; the church stands out by its tall roof
- A route is built with the Build Route button
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