The place is known by three names: the holy mound, the shrine of Eldokhdi and simply the ruins. The word Surb in the name comes from the Armenian tradition, although the site itself is held to be Orthodox: on a plateau where villages are multi confessional, names pass from one language to another.
The hill rises by the village of Katnatu in the south of the Javakheti plateau, about eight kilometres from Ninotsminda. There are few neighbours nearby: the ruins of the Armenian church of Didi Khanchali stand six kilometres away, the house of the Dukhobors in Gorelovka almost seven. The plateau around is open and treeless.
Ruins survive on the spot, and what there is to see is the ground and the remains of masonry rather than walls. The stones are not moved and the foundation is not stepped on. The climb is over grass; in summer closed shoes are better, in winter the hill drifts with snow.
📌 In brief
- The holy mound, also called the Eldokhdi shrine
- Katnatu village in the south of the Javakheti plateau
- Ruins survive on the site
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark: Katnatu village, Ninotsminda municipality; about eight kilometres to Ninotsminda
- The navigator opens with the Build Route button
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