Shoanic temple in Teberda

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

Shoan temple - a historical landmark in Karachay-Cherkessia, erected at the end of the X century. There is a version (not confirmed) that this is the oldest Christian Church in Russia, and it is active. However, if we look at the period of construction, then presumably the Shoan Temple appeared in the late X — early XI centuries, which is later than the Zelenchuk temples in Nizhny Arkhyz and even the Sentinsky temple. Therefore, the tablet on the monument, which reports that it is the most ancient, is actually in doubt.

Unlike other historical attractions in the area of Dombay and Teberda - This one is maintained in a satisfactory condition by the faithful residents of neighboring villages and towns, as well as thanks to donations. However, unfortunately, in 2007, unauthorized repairs were made, as a result of which the remains of ancient decorative paintings, Greek, Arabic, Georgian, Armenian and Russian inscriptions of various eras and numerous North Caucasian generic signs-tamgas inside the temple were lost.

Today the temple can be visited as a historical place, inspect it in detail. Near it there are also ruins of other ancient buildings, since the hillside on which it is located was previously densely built up and inhabited. From the temple there is an equipped path along a rocky ridge to a small observation deck.