00:01Welcome!
00:02When you visit Georgia and stand before this magnificent rock,
00:07the first question that comes to mind is how it was possible to build anything on top of it centuries
00:12ago.
00:14Katsuki Pilla is a massive limestone rock, rising dramatically from the Georgian landscape.
00:21A small monastery sits atop it, captivating imaginations for centuries.
00:27Its remote location and difficult climb made it a haven for hermits and monks seeking solitude and peace.
00:35It remains an active religious site today, though access is very restricted.
00:42Katsuki Pilla is located in the Imereti region of western Georgia.
00:47This region is known for its rolling green hills and deep river valleys.
00:53People have lived here for a very long time, perhaps since the 6th or 7th century.
01:00The hermits sought complete isolation from the world, and Katsuki Pilla was ideal for this.
01:07The monastery wasn't always inhabited.
01:11At times it stood empty and silent.
01:14Katsuki Pilla rises almost vertically to a height of about 40 meters, with steep, smooth sides.
01:22Building on top of this rock is extremely difficult even today.
01:27How was it done in ancient times?
01:30When people first climbed to the top, they found boxes of wine, leading them to question the monks' ascetic lifestyle.
01:39To this day, only monks are allowed to climb regularly.
01:43Others require special permission from the monastery.
01:50Here we are done.
01:52Goodbye.
Comments