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St. George's Church in Gogni: 7th-century shrine where doors refuse to stay
The post describes the Church of St. George in Gogni, a village in the Imereti region of western Georgia. The stone church dates from the seventh and eighth centuries and is known locally as Gognis Tsminda Giorgi, Karugdebeli. According to local tradition, an icon of St. George was discovered in a river and placed on a cart pulled by oxen. The animals climbed the hill and stopped at the exact spot where the sanctuary was later built. The church…
The post describes the Church of St. George in Gogni, a village in the Imereti region of western Georgia. The stone church dates from the seventh and eighth centuries and is known locally as Gognis Tsminda Giorgi, Karugdebeli. According to local tradition, an icon of St. George was discovered in a river and placed on a cart pulled by oxen.
The animals climbed the hill and stopped at the exact spot where the sanctuary was later built. The church earned its nickname Karugdebeli, meaning "the place where doors are rejected," because tradition holds that every time doors were installed they fell off mysteriously. The site remains an active pilgrimage destination throughout the year.
On the feast days of St. George, 6 May and 23 November, thousands of faithful ascend the hill to pray, some walking barefoot as a sign of devotion. The post credits Eklesianews.ge for the information and includes a photograph of the church on the hilltop.
- Church of St. George in Gogni, Imereti, Georgia, dates from 7th-8th centuries
- Local name Gognis Tsminda Giorgi, Karugdebeli means "place where doors are rejected"
- Tradition: icon found in river, placed on ox-cart; oxen stopped at church site
- Doors installed repeatedly fell off, giving rise to the nickname
- Pilgrims visit year-round; thousands climb hill barefoot on feast days 6 May and 23 November