Pulled straight from the earth by God? The monastery closest to heaven

Reported by You T-Ru / Compiled by HowToTrip

Where should you go on a “pilgrimage” to get closest to heaven? In the small town of Chiatura, Georgia, there stands a monastery atop a massive rock. Viewed from the ground, it looks as if God has plucked the stone pillar straight from the earth. Towering so high it seems to touch the sky, travelers call it the “monastery closest to heaven.”


▲The monastery built on a giant rock is known as the place closest to heaven. (Photo / From Wikipedia)

This monastery in the town of Chiatura, Georgia (Sakartvelo), is said to have stood on a 130-meter-high natural stone pillar (Katskhi Pillar) since the 7th century. It’s a famous local landmark. About 20 years ago, monks still lived here, but now it’s abandoned. Many pilgrims still make the trip to climb to the top of the rock to pray, simply because it’s “closer to heaven.”

The origins of this ancient monastery—by whom and how it was built—are unknown. One thing to be especially mindful of is that if you ever get the chance to visit and attempt to climb to the monastery, you must pay close attention to safety. Otherwise, you might truly find yourself “very close to heaven.”