Written by Tinatin Bujiashvili
17km from Gori, there is a quite a big village, Mejvriskhevi. The village is divided into two parts by the River Mejuda.
In the centre of the village there is a Usaneti Church. The church was nearly destroyed during the earthquake in the late 20th century and after that due to a bad restoration.
Vazha Usanetashvili found out about Usaneti Church by chance (Usanetashvili means Usaneti’s son) and decided to restore the church.
In the histororical records we meet Usaneti church in the 19th century, though during the restoration there was found a brick layer dated to 17th century. It means the church was built in the 17th century but restored in the 19th century. The script on the west façade shows that the church was built in 1851 by Ivane khakhutashvili, who was a clergyman in that period.
The church is unique. The walls, built with cobblestones but covered with bricks create three vaults. Such style was known only in Gremi, though historians found out in Mejvriskhevi too.
In the churchyard you will meet some gravestones.
People celebrate Usanetoba on the seventh week after Easter. The church is visited by locals with their guests. People give feast the whole night.
As locals say, Usaneti church is a miraculous church.
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