Ateni Sioni Church
An early 7th century church of four rounded lobes in the village of Ateni, about 10 km south of Gori, in the Tana valley known for its wine. Its frescoes are among the finest examples of Georgian painting, and its name comes from Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
- Where
- Gori, Shida Kartli, Georgia
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 41.9043, 44.0955
Get the Ateni Sioni Church stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Ateni Sioni Church. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Shida Kartli volume with your photos and a note.
Near Ateni Sioni Church
Gori Fortress 9.2 km
A medieval citadel on a rocky hill rising straight out of the centre of Gori. Its stone walls follow the line of the hilltop and look out over the town and the wide plain of Shida Kartli toward the Caucasus.
Joseph Stalin Museum 9.3 km
A museum in Gori, the town where Joseph Stalin was born, devoted to his life. It has kept its Soviet era displays almost untouched, and the small house he was born in and his railway carriage stand in the grounds.
Uplistsikhe 12 km
An ancient town cut into a rocky bank above the Kura, about 10 km east of Gori. Halls, streets, a theatre like space and dwellings are carved straight out of the sandstone, with a later brick church standing on top.
Samtavisi Cathedral 28 km
An 11th century cathedral near the village of Igoeti, some 45 km from Tbilisi. It set the Georgian pattern for cross in square churches, and its east facade is carved with fine decorative stonework from a high point in Georgian architecture.
Shio-Mgvime Monastery 45 km
A medieval monastery tucked into a narrow limestone canyon on the north bank of the Kura, about 30 km from Tbilisi. It was founded in the 6th century by St Shio, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, and the cave where he lived as a hermit lies within it.
Samtavro Monastery 52 km
A monastery in Mtskheta made up of the Transfiguration church and the nunnery of St Nino. Said to have been founded by King Mirian III in the 4th century and rebuilt in the 11th, it holds his grave and is part of the town's UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral 52 km
The great medieval cathedral of Mtskheta, the old capital just north of Tbilisi, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tradition holds that the robe of Christ is buried beneath it. It is the second largest church in Georgia after the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Jvari Monastery 53 km
A 6th century church on a hilltop above Mtskheta, looking down on the meeting of the Aragvi and Kura rivers. It has survived almost unchanged and gave its name to a whole type of church found across Georgia and Armenia.
More hidden gems in Shida Kartli
Questions
Where is Ateni Sioni Church?
Ateni Sioni Church is in Gori, Shida Kartli, Georgia. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Gori Fortress (9.2 km), Joseph Stalin Museum (9.3 km), Uplistsikhe (12 km).
How do I get the Ateni Sioni Church stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Ateni Sioni Church and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Shida Kartli volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Ateni Sioni Church before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Shida Kartli volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
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