Lomisa church, Medieval Orthodox church on mountain ridge in Dusheti Municipality, Georgia
Lomisa church is a medieval stone building set on a mountain ridge between two high valleys in Dusheti Municipality, Georgia. It sits at roughly 7,200 feet (2,200 m) above sea level, with no other buildings around it.
The church dates to the 9th or 10th century. In the 1320s King George V prayed here on his return from the Darial Gorge and issued laws protecting its peasants, including a 1,500-silver-piece fine for murder. Prince Vakhushti around 1745 recorded icons and crosses of gold and silver kept here. Parts of the building have fallen into ruin and the interior was remodeled several times.
Lomisoba, the annual festival, takes place on the Wednesday after Pentecost, when thousands from Mtiuleti, Khevi and Khevsureti walk up to the church. Pilgrims wear the church's heavy iron chain around the neck and circle the shrine three times counterclockwise to make a vow. Rituals for healing and fertility are performed, and livestock, mainly sheep, are slaughtered in the valley below.
The church can only be reached on foot via mountain trails from nearby villages, with the hike taking several hours each way. The path climbs steeply, so sturdy footwear and a good level of fitness are important before setting out.
The church has an iron-clad wooden door engraved with inscriptions from several different centuries, making it a rare record of how long the site has been visited. Doors of this kind, with layered medieval inscriptions, are very rare among mountain churches in Georgia.
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