This is probably the world’s most extreme church. The Katskhi Pillar is one of the world’s strangest and most unknown religious sites, with magical green valleys that make for a stunning view. Katskhi is a natural, 40-meter-tall limestone monolith, so it could certainly be the world’s most isolated church. It is located in western Georgian region of Imereti near the town of Chiatura, Katskhi is also 200 kilometers away from Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital.
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The church, which sits at the top of the pillar, was built between the 6th and the 8th century, and it was dedicated to Maximus the Confessor, a 7th century monk.
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It contains a funerary chamber, a storage room, a dividing wall, and 3 hermit cells. The only way to get here is by car. Then, after walking for about 20 minutes, the impressive monolith will rise before you.
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Those who have visited say that the experience is almost magical, and that it improves as you approach. The monks live at the bottom of the pillar, and every day, they climb all the way up for about 20 minutes with the help of a narrow metal staircase screwed to the pillar.
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Their climb marks the beginning of their daily routine, where they pray and live in peace.
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The Katskhi pillar complex consists nowadays of a church dedicated to Maximus the Confessor, a crypt, three hermit cells, a wine cellar, and a curtain wall on the uneven top surface of the column. At the base of the pillar are the newly built church of Simeon Stylites and ruins of an old wall and belfry. This amazing religious site is full of magic don’t you think?
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