The Karugdebeli shrine, nestled in the mountains of Georgia, is a place of wonder and intrigue. Known locally as “Door-thrown-off,” this holy site has a unique characteristic: no building here has ever been able to keep its doors intact. This has resulted in the shrine being open to the public 24 hours a day seven days a week.
The origins of the shrine date back to the 7th or 8th century CE when the first structure dedicated to St. George was erected. Some believe that a pagan holy place may have existed here even earlier, a common occurrence in the Caucasus region. According to local legend, the villagers attempted to install doors on the shrine multiple times, only to find them mysteriously fallen to the ground each time. Despite numerous rebuilds, the shrine could never be enclosed with doors, transforming the area into a significant site for St. George’s Day festivals.
The Shrine’s Resilience Through Time
In the early 20th century, the Communist government of the Soviet Union attempted to close the shrine as part of their atheistic policies. However, their efforts were repeatedly thwarted. Walls and barriers erected to block the entrance were found in ruins every St. George’s Day. Frustrated, the Communists demolished the shrine entirely, hoping to discourage pilgrimages. Yet, the power of the Gogni shrine was never forgotten. During the 1980s as Soviet restrictions relaxed, the people of the Terjola and Tkibuli regions rebuilt the shrine—without doors, of course.
A Modern Marvel Without Doors
After Georgia regained its independence, the St. George’s Day festivals resumed, drawing tens of thousands of pilgrims twice a year, on May 6th and November 23rd. In 2010 the locals decided to build a large new church near the shrine, visible from the entire region. The finest woodworker in the province was commissioned to carve the main doors. However, strange occurrences plagued the woodworker: the wood warped overnight, and he suffered a neurological affliction in his hands, making it impossible to hold a tool. Terrified, he abandoned the project, and the new church was completed without doors.
Twice a year, pilgrims from across Georgia ascend the steep mountain to the Karugdebeli shrine. Many walk barefoot, believing that circling the shrine three times especially on St. George’s Day, will grant their wishes. The shrine’s enduring mystery and the devotion of its visitors continue to make it a place of profound significance and intrigue.
