Site

ST. BARBARE CHURCH RUINS

In the heart of Khizabavra, hidden among the twisting paths, lie the ruins of St. Barbare Church—an enigmatic relic of a bygone era. Unlike any other ecclesiastical structure, St. Barbare church was built by the local villagers, whose understanding of Orthodox architecture was rudimentary at best. Yet, in their fervent devotion, they crafted a sanctuary using every material they believed should grace a holy place.

The church’s walls, though now crumbling, retain an otherworldly charm. Intricate ornamental reliefs, half-buried beneath layers of mud and creeping grass, whisper tales of devotion and mystery. These ancient carvings, once vibrant with life, now bear the weight of centuries and the encroaching grasp of nature.

During the Soviet era the church was desecrated, its sacred spaces left to decay. In an act of desperation to preserve their spiritual heritage, the villagers buried their precious religious books beneath the church floor, hiding them away from the oppressive regime. They believed that the earth itself would safeguard their faith until a more benevolent time could come.

In Khizabavra, St. Barbare’s ruins are not just a relic of the past but a living memory of the village's undying spirit, buried deep beneath layers of earth and time.