Photos of the Medieval Gergeti Holy Trinity Church Georgia

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Photos of the spectacular Georgian Medieval Gergeti Holy Trinity Church, Georgia (country). Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the spectacular Georgian Medieval Gergeti Holy Trinity Church, Georgia (country).

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Photos of Gergeti Holy Trinity (Tsminda Sameba) Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, 14th century, Gergeti, Khevi province, Georgia (country).

Gergeti Holy Trinity

Gergeti Holy Trinity (Tsminda Sameba) Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church is one of the most remote churches in the Europe. The last town along the old military Soviet road, before the Russian border in the high Caucasus Mountains, is Stephantsminda (Kazbegi).

Gergeti Holy Trinity Remote Setting

It is a slow climb up to this remote town in northern Georgia situated at 1,740 m (5,710 ft) above sea level. Gergeti Holy Trinity its situated in the mountains high above Stephantsminda.

Built in the 14th century the Gergeti Holy Trinity church is a cruciform church with cupola and separate bell tower. It is the only Georgian church of this style in Khevi province.

It seems remarkable that a large church complex was built in such a remote location at an elevation of 2170 meters (7120 feet) on the slopes of Mount Kazbegi. The ruin of an even higher church was discovered in 1913 at an elevation of 3,962 m. Both churches were built at a time when Georgia was under threat of invasion. Gergeti Holy Trinity was built to keep Georgia national treasures safe, such as relics from Mtskheta and St Nino’s cross. These were periodically taken to Gergeti Holy Trinity church in times of crisis.

Gergeti Holy Trinity church was built on an early pagan shrine. Evidence that superstitious locals still follow pagan beliefs can sometimes be found near Gergeti Holy Trinity church. Decapitated sheep heads and rams horn crosses can be found in the area. Further evidence of pagan ritual can be seen on the Gergeti Holy Trinity church feast day festival, on 28 August, during which sheep are sacrificed.

Gergeti Holy Trinity was close during the USSR era. In 1990’s it reopened as a Georgian Orthodox church.

Its remoteness and its setting agains the high mountains of the Caucasus have made the Gergeti Holy Trinity church one of the iconic symbols of Georgian nationalism and one of Georgia’s most important tourist sites.