The Matskvarishi's St. Archangels Church is a large single nave church with a recessed apse and additions on the south and north sides (evidence of the northern addition is visible on the façade). It is located in the village of Matskvarishi, in the Latali community, and was built in the 13th century. The church’s interior and chancel were painted in the 16th century, and remnants of heavily damaged murals (whose condition does not allow for exact dating) can still be seen on the eastern façade.
The church’s murals are a highly interesting and significant example of wall painting from this period. The iconographic program of the frescoes (which includes the feast cycle and images of various saints) features the use of old motifs that were characteristic of the earlier stages of the Svaneti painting school, including: Christ in Glory in the apse's conch (the second occurrence after the frescoes in Acisi); the use of the same scheme for the vault as seen in Paleologian-era frescoes.
Particularly noteworthy is the abundance of depictions of holy warriors and holy mothers, as well as the inclusion of healing saints in the program, which is quite rare in the wall painting tradition of Svaneti.
Useful information
Location
In Latali, near the central road
Key holder
The key is kept at the Yenashi Monastery with the local priest – Father Egnate
Intangible cultural heritage
Social Enterprise “Latliishd”
Social Enterprise “Latliishd” is offering tourists master classes in making miniature Svanetian hats. The women engaged in the enterprise saw and make crochet. Their design replicates traditional ornaments found on historic artifacts kept in the local museum. The enterprise is also offering experiential tours involving svanetian salt making and culinary master classes both in the space of the enterprise or in various Latali native ladies’ homes.
Pirtskhelani Workshop Village Latali
Beso Pirtskhelani, a wood master, musician and teacher of Georgian folk instruments, is the founder of the workshop. Beso makes traditional wooden furniture and musical instruments local to Svaneti, such as Changi and Tchianuri and also teaches how to play these instruments. He can offer master classes in woodcarving and making of the musical instruments. Those interested must have basic wood carving skills.
“Singing Village”- Union “Lidbashi” Village Lkhushdi
Since 2011 the Chamgeliani family has hosted visitors interested in Svanetian Music. Their “Singing House” located in the center of village Lakhushdi hosts masterclasses, meetings with ethnologists, ethnomusicologists, and visitors interested in living heritage and heritage traditions. They host day visitors as well as those interested in longer, musical residence stays. Among tourism products offered, are: Musical masterclass, playing a traditional instrument, singing, dining, distilling local spirits, making svanetian salt, culinary masterclass, telling legends around the campfire, masterclass with elders extracting gold from the river, architectural tour and lecture on Svanetian dwelling, etc.
