Kvirikoba (Kala, Svaneti)
Svaneti's most sacred feast, held at a remote 10th-century church above the village of Kala.
Mestia to Ushguli TrekPhoto: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0Kvirikoba honours Saints Kvirike and Ivlita at the small Lagurka church, which sits high above Kala on the path between Iprari and Ushguli. Pilgrims climb through a sacred forest with offerings of food and wine, and a bull is sacrificed in the morning and cooked in an old copper cauldron for the shared meal.
After the prayers come singing and contests of strength, such as stone throwing and lifting the church's iron bell. It lines up with the high trekking season, so hikers on the Mestia to Ushguli route sometimes time the last stage to pass through on the 28th.
- The climb to Lagurka is steep; allow at least an hour from Kala.
- Ask before photographing the sacrifice or prayers.
- Plan the Mestia to Ushguli trek so the last stage falls on 28 July.
Where to see it
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
Tours around Kvirikoba (Kala, Svaneti)
More in July and after
A folk music, craft and food festival held among the historic houses of Tbilisi's open-air ethnographic museum.
10 Aug 2027 (expected)Atnigenoba (Tusheti)Tusheti's main summer feast cycle at the village shrines, with sheep sacrifice, beer brewing, horse races and song.
Jul 2027 (day to be announced)Black Sea Jazz Festival (Batumi)Batumi's summer jazz festival, which has brought international jazz, soul and funk names to the coast since 2007.