St. Barbare Church in Batumi

The church’s interesting journey has seen it take on many roles. In 1905, it was made an Orthodox Church, but it would soon fall into the hands of the military. How this came about involves an agreement between the then Russian vice-regent Vorontsov and the archpriest Vostorgov, who was said to have particularly close ties to the ruling government at the time.

In 1996, after the military hospital was moved to a different location, a new church was constructed and reconsecrated on the Annunciation, April 7th, 1997. It was returned under the ownership of the Orthodox church.

Today, the church is still an active part of the local religious fabric, and receives visitors drawn by its beauty and storied history.