About Sights – Katskhis Sveti
Katskhis (Georgian: კაცხის სვეტი) is a limestone rock pillar located at the village of Katskhi in the western Georgian region of Imereti, close to the town of Chiatura. The 40 metres (130 ft) high rock has been venerated as the Pillar of Life, symbolizing the True Cross. It remained unclimbed by researchers until 1944.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons – travelgeorgia.ru
The location is not characteristic for churches in Georgia and researchers believe that it was the home of hermit monks who came from the Middle East.
The pillar complex, consists of a modern restoration of a ruined medieval church, a burial vault, three hermit cells, a wine cellar, and a curtain wall.
Between 2005 and 2009, the buildings on the top of the pillar were restored with the support of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia. The pillar is only accessible via an iron ladder running from its base to the top.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons – travelgeorgia.ru
How to get there? The closest town is Chiatura, located about 200 km from the capital Tbilisi. By car, you will need approximately 3 hours. You can catch a bus in Tbilisi at the bus station Didube Okriba (GEL 12 at the time of writing). In Chiatura, you need to get a taxi (GEL 15) to Katskhi.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons – travelgeorgia.ru
Georgia About recommends a visit to Katskhis Sveti
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[…] este site, você pode pegar um ônibus de Tbilisi até Chiatura e depois um táxi até o […]
Georgia About 
From what you have shared leads me to believe that Georgia has some of the most interesting things in the whole world. I keep thinking surely there is nothing else you can show that would amaze me but you just keep coming up with these interesting things. Hugs
they say every man is an island. So whoever made this originally must have took this literally….i want to just sit there and write for a few days…so awesome
That’s a strange… rock!
That is unbelievable!!! Okay, now we are wondering how they got all the stuff up there to build the church!! We bet that is wild in a big windstorm! LOL
I’m just wondering if you don’t have earthquakes? Because this rock pillar might be dangerous….
Wow…they have a wine cellar, too? Hmmmm….if we take the iron ladder, how long does it take to get the top?
What an interesting place!