The church of Surb Grigor Lusavorich in Machatia is a working village church north-east of Akhalkalaki, bearing the name of Gregory the Illuminator. Armenian tradition ties the baptism of Armenia to this saint, and a dedication to him marks a church of special standing for the community.
Machatia is an ordinary village of the Javakheti plateau, where the church on the edge by a field road remains the main building of the area. For a traveller it is a corner of living Armenian countryside half an hour from Akhalkalaki, and on the northern edge of the village waits another church, Surb Hovhannes: both fit into one short call.
Guests are met kindly, and the rules are usual: modest dress, quiet, photography outside services. The field road to the church is passable in dry weather; after rain the last few hundred metres are better walked.
📜 Facts
- The dedication: Gregory the Illuminator
- Machatia on the Javakheti plateau, north-east of Akhalkalaki
- The village’s other church: Surb Hovhannes on the northern edge
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark - Machatia village; about five kilometres to Akhalkalaki
- A route is built with the Build Route button
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