Shoana Church, Byzantine church in Kosta Khetagurova, Russia
Shoana Church is a stone structure built on the southeastern slope of Mount Shoana, standing approximately 12.9 meters high and 8.9 meters wide. An artificial platform reinforces the building's western side to stabilize it on the uneven rock foundation beneath.
The church was built in the early 10th century during Byzantine missionary expansion in the region. It later became part of the Alan Diocese, serving as a religious center for communities in the North Caucasus.
The interior walls display ancient paintings and inscriptions in multiple languages including Greek, Arabic, Georgian, Armenian, and Russian from different time periods. These markings reveal how many different peoples left their mark on this place over the centuries.
A gravel path leads up the mountainside to reach the church, which sits positioned at the cliff's edge. Visitors should wear suitable footwear since the terrain is uneven and the location is exposed to the elements.
A bell sits at the cliff's edge, marking the exposed setting of this place perched high on the mountainside. This positioning gives visitors a memorable connection to the dramatic mountain landscape surrounding the site.
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