This place carries two names at once: a church of the Virgin Mary and the salotsavi of the Baturiaanti family. A salotsavi is a place of prayer, an independent type of revered site in the Georgian tradition, and in the Kakhetian foothills a parish dedication and a family veneration often meet in one place without cancelling each other out.
The site stands in the northern part of Matani, about half a kilometre from the Trinity church. Matani stretches along the foothills by the entrance to the Pankisi gorge, and holds more than a dozen sanctuaries scattered over several kilometres.
No regular services are held here and the site can be approached at any time. The place is modest in scale and takes only minutes to see, so it is sensible to combine it with the neighbouring Trinity church. Behave as you would in a church: without noise and without unnecessary touching.
📜 Of interest
- A Virgin Mary church which is also the Baturiaanti family place of prayer
- The northern part of Matani, foothills by the entrance to the Pankisi gorge
- The Trinity church of the village stands about half a kilometre away
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark: Matani village, Akhmeta municipality; about seven kilometres to Akhmeta
- The Build Route button will show the exact way
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