Sarkineti Monastery, dedicated to Shio Mgvimeli, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, is located in Elbakiantkari village, Kareli Municipality, in the Dzama River gorge, among the churches, cathedrals, monasteries and synagogues of the region. The church is carved directly into the rock: work began in 2008 and was completed with a blessing ceremony in 2011, making it the first such rock-cut structure built in Georgia since the 14th century.
To enter, visitors pass through a five-metre corridor leading into the cliff. On the outside, the rock is adorned with two arched church windows, and an open bell-tower gazebo rises at its summit. The interior is entirely painted: according to some sources, the icon painter Vasil Zandukeli created the frescoes, though other sources give a slightly different spelling of the name. A notable architectural detail: to preserve the traditional Georgian custom of a processional walk around the church, additional halls were carved into the same rock to accommodate the congregation for this rite, since walking around the exterior of the building is physically impossible here.
The monastery stands in the Dzama gorge, home to around fifty churches and monasteries of various eras, including the nearby Ortubani Nunnery and the famous Kintsvisi Monastery from Queen Tamar's era. According to one visitor's observation, the walled monastery courtyard itself is sometimes closed to the public, and on-site signage isn't always clear for foreign visitors reading Georgian, so it's worth confirming access to the church itself in advance if that's the goal of your visit.
