Megalithic complex (Menhir) of Tejisi (Region of Kvemo Kartli)
Megalithic complex of Tejisi (Georgian: თეჯისის (მენჰირი) მეგალითური კომპლექსი). On the territory of the village of Tejisi, the remains of cyclopean buildings have been preserved. The church of Aia Konstantini (St. Constantine) is surrounded by a megalithic wall made of rough boulders. A boulder weighing up to 7 tons was used on the western wall. It seems that there used to be a fairly large complex here, which had a megalithic fence. The so-called Cromlech is an ancient structure from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age, consisting of several oblong stones placed vertically in the ground, forming one or more concentric circles. As usual, another object was located in the center of such structures. Most likely, at first, a fairly large pagan religious center was located here, and then a Christian church was built.
The medieval church, located inside the enclosure, is not decorated with decorative elements. There is only an image of a relief cross on the western facade and simple sari headboards on the upper eastern and southern windows. Inside the Christian church, there is an unusual and huge stone menhir (Georgian: მენჰირი) 3.8 meters high with an image of a cross, an example of the continuity of holy places regardless of faith. This stone has one peculiarity – the back side is strongly magnetized. The material of the stone is basalt, which does not have magnetism, especially in one particular place, which is quite strange. The single-nave church was once a two-part building with one roof. At the moment, only one section is covered. The entrance is quite low, which makes the pilgrim bow his head and enter with trepidation. Apparently, the local clergy needed additional space and built an extension to the south of the temple, which, unfortunately, has not survived in its full form.
Tejisi village (Georgian: სოფელი თეჯისი), Tsalka Municipality (Georgian: წალკის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
