The church and its gardens are stunning and definitely worth a visit. However, my experience was marred by the entrance attendant, who is reportedly the church warden.
I arrived in shorts that covered my knees, but he rudely told me they were too short and ordered me to leave. I followed the rules and used a scarf from the entrance to cover my legs, yet he still denied me entry. Meanwhile, a woman in a very short skirt was allowed in without any issue. When I pointed out this inconsistency, he became aggressive, attempted to push me out, and even threatened to punch me. He also made incorrect assumptions about my nationality and swore at me as I was leaving.
I have no issue with adhering to dress codes at religious sites—I'm respectful of them wherever I go, and I accepted the scarf here. However, rules need to be enforced fairly and with respect. It’s unacceptable to threaten and shove visitors at a sacred place, especially from someone who is supposed to be welcoming them.
To the church authorities: since this behavior stems from the warden himself, it cannot be resolved by the same individual—please address this at a higher level. This does not reflect the warm Georgian hospitality I've experienced elsewhere. My visit was on Monday, July 13th, around 5 pm.
