Katskhi pillar

Perched atop a limestone monolith in the heart of Georgia's Imereti region, the Katskhi Pillar stands as a breathtaking testament to the lengths of human spiritual pursuit. This natural pillar, soaring approximately 40 meters into the sky, is crowned by a monastery that has been a place of seclusion and prayer for centuries.

The origins of the monastery date back to the 9th or 10th century, but it fell into disuse after the Ottoman invasion. The Katskhi Pillar remained untouched by the outside world until its rediscovery in the 1940s. It was not until 1999 that a monk named Maxime Qavtaradze ascended the pillar and began to restore the hermitage, where he has lived a life of solitude and devotion ever since.

Access to the Katskhi Pillar is not for the faint of heart. It requires a vertiginous climb up a slender ladder, which is why the site is primarily a place of pilgrimage and monastic seclusion rather than a tourist attraction. The monastery includes a small church dedicated to Maximus the Confessor, a crypt, and three hermit cells.

The Katskhi Pillar is a symbol of spiritual asceticism and represents a unique blend of natural wonder and human determination. It is a site of religious significance and has attracted international attention for its stunning location and the profound commitment of its sole inhabitant.