Katskhi Pillar: A monk above the clouds

The Katskhi Pillar

Not far away from Chiatura and on the way to Kutaisi, there is a monolith called the Katskhi Pillar. It is definitely more compact than the one in Anafi but nonetheless, it’s impressive. It appears in the middle of a forest, and it’s at once visible. Don’t underestimate it’s size though: it is 40 meters high and for its size rather thin.

A monk lives all alone there for over a quarter of a century. Faith probably keeps him alive, as well as the love of the surrounding community. People that live around the area deliver him food several times per week. His name is Maxime.

A ladder goes all the way up to the top of the monolith, subbed as “Stairway to Heaven.” It’s mind-blowing to think about how they built a tiny church, a wine cellar, and some monk cells up there. The first church on the Katskhi Pillar was built back in the 7th century.

Quite obviously, it reminds me of Meteora in Greece.

Sometimes he appears

Every once in awhile, Maxime climbs down the 40-meter long ladder. On the small yard in front of the monolith, there is a kiosk selling honey and handmade ornaments with a religious background. The prices are written on the packaging, and most of them cost less than 10 rubles.

As if the Katskhi Pillar is not odd enough, on the other side of the yard, there is a rooster in a cage. I have no idea if somebody brought it here today or if it is the alarm clock of Maxime. But the spectacle is slightly weird. The rooster moves up and down in its cage.

I walk the perimeter a couple of times, and I try to find a good spot to take a photo. All I achieve, though, is to attract some stray dogs. They are not barking, but they are quite playful. They protect Maxime and probably the rooster.

Katskhi Pillar is a telescope of sorts

A Russian tourist arrives at the spot together with a group that follows him. “Da, da, da,” he says to them; he seems a bit bored. He goes straight to the ladder, which no one is allowed to use. Only Maxime. The tourist doesn’t have any intention to climb. All he does is to use the ladder as some sort of a telescope. Through the ladder, he looks towards the sky. He stands there for a while. Moments later, he shoots a selfie with his smartphone.

I try to look up, too. The sky is very cloudy. I think I see something moving on the top of the monolith. It’s probably an illusion and not the monk himself.

Take a tour to the Katskhi Pillar in Georgia

More about Georgia: Chiatura, a modern dystopia? , A stream of hope in Tbilisi & Things to do in Tbilisi

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Last Updated on May 19, 2020 by George Pavlopoulos