GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Katskhi Pillar Monastery

Heaven's stone ladder in Imereti

Katskhi Pillar Monastery

Why go

Katskhi Pillar rises 40 metres from the valley floor, a limestone monolith crowned by a tiny hermitage that has drawn ascetics since at least the 9th century. The Stylite tradition—living atop pillars in emulation of St. Simeon—found its Georgian expression here, with monks dwelling in isolation above the world until Soviet suppression. Today Father Maxime, a solitary monk, maintains the church and cells, reached only by a vertiginous iron ladder. The pillar commands sweeping views over the Katskhi River gorge, oak forests, and distant peaks, while the medieval stone structures above preserve the austere spirituality of Georgia's mountain Christianity.

On the ground See

  • The 6th-century basilica ruins at the pillar's base, older than the hermitage itself
  • The iron ladder ascent—122 rungs bolted to the rock face, climbed only by the monk and occasional visitors permitted by the Church
  • The Church of Maximus the Confessor and single monk's cell atop the pillar, with its wooden cross planted in 1995 to replace a Soviet-destroyed predecessor

Practical Know before you go

Open year-round but access to the top is restricted; contact the Imereti diocese or arrive early, as Father Maxime alone decides which pilgrims may climb, typically spring through autumn, weather permitting.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly