The Sakeni Church ( ka, საკენის ეკლესია) is a church in the village of Sakeni, Gulripshi Municipality,

Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia The Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia is an administration established in exile by Georgia as the ''de jure'' government of its separatist region of Abkhazia. Abkhazia has been '' de facto'' independent from Georgia – though ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

.Church in Sakeni village
Historical monuments of Abkhazia — Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

History

The church is broadly dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact time of its construction is unknown. The church stands in the center of the village. It is a hall-church design, its walls built of large coarsely processed blocks of local volcanic rock. There is the only entrance, leading into a hall with a small vault leaning against arches. The arches are constructed of the porous volcanic rock. According to local reports, the villagers have found iron crosses and fragments of millstones in the debris of the church. The local Georgian Svan community revered the church as a shrine of St. George. The church was partially restored and continued to be used until 2008, when the local population had to leave the area during the

Russo-Georgian War The August 2008 Russo-Georgian War, also known as the Russian invasion of Georgia,Occasionally, the war is also referred to by other names, such as the Five-Day War and August War. was a war waged against Georgia by the Russian Federation and the ...

. There is a second church on the northeast outskirts of the village. At an altitude of about 1600 m above sea level, it is the most highland place of warship on the territory of Abkhazia. Its design is akin to the former church, but it is larger in size. Local limestone volcanic rock is used in its walls and ceiling blocks.

References

Religious buildings and structures in Georgia (country) Religious buildings and structures in Abkhazia Churches in Abkhazia {{Abkhazia-stub