Explore the Choluri Community
The villages of Durashi, Sakdari, Shtvili, Buleshi, Chvelieri, Mutsdi, Mami, Leusheri, Panaga, Chvelpi and Tvibi
Svaneti is known for its beauty, ancient traditions and distinctive architectural heritage, and the Choluri community is one of the most striking examples of the region's unique character. Choluri is located in Svaneti, in the Lentekhi municipality, and includes 12 villages: Durashi, Sakdari, Shtvili, Bulesh, Chvelieri, Tekali, Mutsdi, Mami, Leusheri, Panaga, Chvelpi, Tvibi.
The community is rich in cultural heritage, with historical towers and temples, most of which were built in the Middle Ages.
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Sakdari St. George Church
The Church of St. George of Sakdari is located in the village of Sakdari, Lentekhi Municipality, Svaneti. The church is a basilica and dates back to the 12th-13th centuries.
It is a hall-type building, built of Shirim stone, the floor is paved with basalt tiles. The church is completely painted. The nave of the altar depicts a prayer (an extensive edition), in the apse - the adoration of the sacrifice, on the southern slope of the arch - the Nativity, the Annunciation, the Epiphany, on the southern wall - on the first register: the Resurrection of Lazarus, the Ascension, on the second register: St. Barbara and St. Marine, St. Theodore, part of the Ascension composition. On the third register: two half-figures of the St. Warrior, St. Mary of Egypt (western arch). On the north wall - on the first register: the glorious entry into Jerusalem, the anointing mothers at the tomb of the Lord, on the second register; the miracle of the city of Lasia, St. George in the eastern arch, on the third register there are sacrificial images; on the west wall - on the first register the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, on the second register - the descent into hell and the crucifixion, on the third register, sacrificial images on both sides of the door.
According to legend, the church in the village of Sakdri was built by the Gvidiani family. During the construction, the church was destroyed twice. During the third construction, the master made a hat for the child and threw it into the foundation. Then he said, - go down and take it out. When the child jumped into the hole in the foundation, they laid stones on his head and laid the wall.
The master's right arm was cut off as a punishment for burrying a child in the foundation. According to the story, this master then built the Tekali church with his left arm.
Svan towers and machubs
Tvibi Archangel Church
The church is located in the village of Tvibi. The small, hall-shaped church stands on a forested mountain 900-1000 m from the village. It dates back to the 10th-11th centuries. The church is built of shirimi stone, the walls are bulging, the vault is collapsed, which is why it is fastened with wooden ties from the outside, and a tin roof is installed on the structure resting on the walls.
Both the interior and the facades of the church were completely painted. On the northern facade, a faint image of a large serpent has survived. In the nave of the altar, a widespread prayer is depicted, in the apse, two figures of the Holy High Priest are more or less clearly visible (in the middle and on the south side). On the northern slope of the arch, fragments of the Annunciation to the east, the Epiphany to the west, and the Nativity to the east have survived on the southern slope. On the northern wall, from east to west, are St. George on horseback and the donors, on the southern wall, St. Theodore on horseback piercing the serpent and the Holy Mothers. On the western wall, in the first register - the Raising of Lazarus, in the second register, in the middle, a half-length figure of the Archangel, and here and there a few donors. It is somewhat close to the archaic paintings of the 13th century in Upper Svaneti. There are traces of late copying on the northern and western walls of the apse. Traces of painting can also be seen on the western and southern facades. The painting is quite fragmentary, in many places the plaster has fallen off or the frame has fallen off.