Old Shuamta Monastery, Georgia

The Old Shuamta Monastery near Telavi in the Kakhet reigon of Georgia is located in the middle of a mountain forest – which is the meaning of ‘shuamta.’ It was surrounded in mist during my visit.

The Old Shuamta Monastery, built in the 5th century, was abandoned in the 16th century, and remained unused.

The New Shuamta Monastery was built nearby in the 16th century.

There is a dress code when visiting monasteries in Georgia. Women should wear a head scarf and a skirt or dress (not trousers or mini-skirts). A wrap-around skirt is provided to visitors to tie around their waist to cover their trousers. Head scarves are also provided, but I bring my own scarf whenever travelling around the country. Men wearing shorts are provided with pull-on trousers.

MARTINA NICOLLS

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MARTINA NICOLLS is an international human rights-based consultant in education, healing and wellbeing, peace and stabilization, foreign aid audits and evaluations, and the author of: The Paris Residences of James Joyce (2020), Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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