SKHALTA CHURCH

Skhalta Church, dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God, is located in Achara , on the right bank of the Skhaltistsqali River, approximately 80 km east of Batumi. It is the only well-preserved Medieval church in the historic province of Achara, a region that became heavily Islamized following its conquest by the Ottoman Empire in the mid-sixteenth century.

Due to its strategic location on a road of regional importance, Skhalta was likely a prosperous village in the Middle Ages. A document from 1392 lists it among the villages owned by the Catholicos of Georgia.

Skhalta Church, viewed from the east

Skhalta Church was built in the mid-thirteenth century. It is a single-nave structure with low proportions, giving it a squat appearance. The wide sanctuary apse has a heptagonal shape from the outside, featuring three windows cut into the three central facets. Inside, the longitudinal walls of the nave are articulated by two pairs of projecting pilasters, which support the arches of the barrel vault.

Skhalta Church, viewed from the southwest

The façades are faced with smoothly hewn sandstone blocks. Exterior decoration is limited to the window frames, which boast carved ornaments. A number of decorated stones are also incorporated into the façade masonry in various places.

Window decoration

The church has two entrances: one on the south side and another on the west. Sometime after the church was completed, arched porches were added in front of both doors. The southern porch originally included extensions on both sides that served as chapels. These fell into ruin in the late Middle Ages, leaving only the central arched section standing. The western porch collapsed in the 1930s. Both annexes were fully restored in the 2000s.

Skhalta Church, viewed from the southwest, before the restoration of the annexes (photo 1982)

The interior of Skhalta Church was painted in the late fourteenth century. The murals include scenes from the Great Feasts and the childhood of St. John the Baptist, as well as images of prophets and patriarchs. A large depiction of the Deesis dominates the sanctuary conch.

Interior view looking west

A ruined single-nave chapel, located five meters southeast of the church, was rebuilt in the 2000s.