Tevdore, court artist of Georgian King David Aghmashenebeli, painted the murals inside Kala’s revered Church of St. Kvirike and St. Ivlita (Lagurka Church to the Svans) around 1110.
Svaneti or Svanetia (Suania in ancient sources) (Georgian: სვანეთი Svaneti) is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country. It is inhabited by the Svans, an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians.
Surrounded by 3,000-5,000 meter peaks, Svaneti is the highest inhabited area in the Caucasus. Four of the 10 highest peaks of the Caucasus are located in the region. The highest mountain in Georgia, Mount Shkhara at 5,201 meters (17,059 feet). Svanetia is known for their architectural treasures and picturesque landscapes. The Botany of Svanetia is legendary among travelers. The famous Svanetian towers erected mainly in the 9th-12th centuries, make the region’s villages more attractive. In the province are dozens of Georgian Orthodox churches and various fortified buildings. Architectural monuments of Upper Svanetia are included in a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
An Orthodox priest leads mass at the 11th-century church above the village of Kala during the Christian and pre-Christian Kvirikoba festival, held every July 28. People come from the lowlands for sacred rites and feasting.
Brothers Tarzan and Emzar Qaldani take their turn at the altar during Lichaanish. Holding an icon of Jesus and a candle to honor St. George, they cry out requests for specific blessings during the coming year.
The days after the winter festival of Lamproba-Svimnoba, an Orthodox commemoration of the dead, are celebrated with pagan fire rituals and sacrificial offerings in Chvibiani, one of four villages in the community of Ushguli.
Inside Adishi’s Church of St. George, worshippers thank the saint with sacrificial sheep, which will become a feast for picnickers outside.
Orthodox priest Giorgi Chartolani officiates at a wedding in Mestia. Family is central to Svaneti life, and relatives gather regularly to mark marriages, births, and deaths.
Photograph by Aaron Huey
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