Jikheti Monastery: Legend and History
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The Sameba-Jikheti Church is a 19th-century landmark located in the Guria region, within the Lanchkhuti Municipality, situated between the villages of Chqonagora and Sameba. It currently functions as a nunnery.
Jikheti is located on the northern slope of the Guria Range, on Nigoyiti Mountain, at an elevation of 250 meters above sea level. It is 12 km from Lanchkhuti, 3 km from Nigoyiti, and 6 km from the main highway.
The Monastery Complex
The monastery was founded at the end of the 19th century.
- The Main Temple: The Temple of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary was built in 1896 by Ilarion Menabde of Ozurgeti.
- Bell Tower: Added to the main temple in 1987.
- St. George’s Church: A basilica-type church built in 1988.
- St. John the Baptist Church: Built in 2002, dedicated to the Conception of St. John the Baptist.
- The Jordan Spring: A baptismal pool in the courtyard fed by spring water. The water is believed to have medicinal properties.
Every year on December 4th, the feast day of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, the monastery hosts a major celebration known as "Jikhetoba."
Legend
There is a legend regarding the location of the Jikheti Monastery. Originally, a monastery named after the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women stood in a very inaccessible spot on Jikheti Mountain. The nuns suffered greatly from a lack of water and decided to choose a new location. Following a tradition reminiscent of the biblical flood, they entrusted the choice to three doves. The new monastery was built on the spot where the doves finally landed.
Lanchkhuti
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Lanchkhuti Municipality is located in western Georgia, on the Guria region. The territory of the district has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Urban life has been developed here since the Bronze Age, which is confirmed by the Shukhuti settlement. Lanchkhuti is first mentioned in historical sources in the 17th century. Scientists have different opinions regarding the etymology of Lanchkhuti. According to Simon Janashia's theory, this name is related to the Megrelian-Chan word chkhu, which means cow, and Lanchkhuti itself - to a cowshed. Vakhushti Batonishvili has a completely different opinion, in his opinion, the root of the toponym is "chku" and not "chkhu" and Lanchkhuti has the meaning of "samser", "gadashkhedi". By 1916, an elementary school and a library were already functioning in the district. In 1930, Lanchkhuti became the district center. Currently, the municipality has health care facilities, three public schools, a parish school, a cultural center, a library and a museum. Three regional newspapers are also published: "Lachkhuti +", "Lanchkhutis Moambe" and "Ho da Ara". Agriculture is developed in Lanchkhuti (citrus growing, livestock breeding, fruit growing), and tourism plays an important role in the coastal area. The Baku-Supsa oil pipeline and the Supsa terminal play a major role in the economy of the municipality. Lanchkhuti is also rich in minerals (peat, magnetite, limestone, clay, mineral water). The region is distinguished by its beautiful nature and ancient cultural monuments. The beautiful Kolkheti National Park, the Japanese Lake hidden in the green, the Paliastomi, medieval monuments and the sparkling blue sea with sandy beaches attract many tourists.
Geography and Climate
Lanchkhuti Municipality is located in western Georgia, in the Guria region, between the Black Sea, the Pichori River and the Guria Range. It covers the territory of the Odish-Guria Lowland and its adjacent mountains. The administrative center of the district is the city of Lanchkhuti. The municipality is bordered by the Black Sea coastline to the west,
