Gergeti Trinity Church (Kazbegi)
A small stone church on a high ridge, framed by the snow-covered cone of Mount Kazbek.
About
The church stands alone on a ridge at about 2,170 metres, high above the town of Stepantsminda, also known as Kazbegi. Behind it rises Mount Kazbek, a glacier-topped peak of roughly 5,050 metres, and the view of the two together is one of the most photographed in Georgia.
Most visitors walk up from the town in one to two hours, or ride up by 4x4 on a rough track. The paths beyond the church lead onto open meadows and, for strong hikers, on to the Gergeti Glacier. Weather changes quickly, so bring warm layers.
History
The church dates to the fourteenth century and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Its remote position made it a refuge: in times of danger, valuables and sacred objects from other churches were said to be brought here for safe keeping. The Georgian Military Highway below it follows an old trade and military route through the Darial Gorge, and the church long watched over travellers on that road. Georgian legend links Mount Kazbek with Amirani, a hero chained to the mountain as punishment, in a story similar to the Greek tale of Prometheus. Today the church is again in regular use and is both a place of pilgrimage and a popular viewpoint.