The Katskhi Pillar is a limestone rock located in Georgia. At the top of this monolith is a monastery built in the 1990s. Today a lonely monk named Maxim Kavtaradze lives in this monastery. It is known that the pillar was used by Christian ascetics already in the VI-VIII centuries. Thus, we can say that Maxim is continuing this ancient ascetic tradition, and he is possibly the last hermit monk living on the top of the Katskhi pillar.
Location and original purpose of the Katskhi pillar
The Katskhi Pillar is located in Imereti, a region and historical region in western Georgia. This 40-meter column is located by the Katskhura River. Since Katskhi stands out in such a special way against the background of the landscape, it is not surprising that people see a special purpose in it. In pre-Christian times, for example, it was believed that the rock was used by pagans as a sacred site as early as 2000 years ago. The monolith was considered the embodiment of the god of fertility, and therefore rituals were held there.
However, with the advent of Christianity, the Katskhi pillar acquired a new purpose. The limestone column was no longer associated with fertility. Instead, she came to be seen as a way to detach herself from the world. The ascetic practice of living on a pillar dates back to the 4th-5th centuries, when Saint Simeon the Stylite decided to settle at the top. Saint Simeon did this in order to distance himself from society and devote his time to prayer.
The Katskhi pillar and Christian hermits
Between the 6th and 8th centuries AD, a small church, which was dedicated to the Monk Maxim the Confessor, was built on top of the Katskhi pillar. Today only the foundations of this ancient church remain here. Although it was known that Christian hermits lived on the rock for centuries, scientists only explored the area in the 20th century, in 1944.
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More research was carried out after 1999 and more became known about the structures that were once built on the pillar. For example, they found that in addition to the church, there were also several hermit cells and a wine cellar. In addition, a small limestone slab was discovered in 2007. This tablet had an inscription on Asomtavruli (the oldest type of Georgian writing), which dates back to the 13th century. The inscription says that a man named "Giorgi" was responsible for the construction of three cells. In addition, the "Pillar of Life" is mentioned here, which is another name for the Katskhi Pillar used by the locals. Traditionally, the column has always been revered as a symbol of the True Cross, hence the name.
Hermit Monk of the Katskhi Pillar
Today, a hermit lives at the top of the pillar. In 1993, a Georgian Orthodox monk named Maxim Kavtaradze moved to live on a rock. At first, an old refrigerator served as a bed for the monk, since there were no buildings above to protect it from the weather. Later, the destroyed church was rebuilt by supporters of Christianity. In addition, a small house was built for the monk.
Maxim, who had a prison term behind him, feels that life on the Katskhi pillar helped him to come closer to God and renounce the past. Maxim spends most of his time at the top of the cliff. The believers bring him food and put it in a basket, which he lifts up with a winch. Twice a week he descends an iron staircase to pray in a small monastery located at the base of the pillar. He also talks and comforts people who come there for spiritual advice.
Svetlana Bodrik