A new chapter in the spiritual life of Senaki Municipality was marked by the consecration of the Church of St. Great Martyr Barbara in the village of Isula.

The ceremony was attended by local residents, members of the Holy Synod, and government representatives.

“Every church built in Georgia is a joyful and progressive step toward the revival of faith. In Isula, the old church that stood here during the Bolshevik era was demolished, but now, thanks to the blessing of Bishop Shio and the generosity of local businessman Mr. Gogi (Giorgi) Salakaia, a new church dedicated to St. Barbara has been erected. This is a great blessing not only for the residents of this village but for the entire country. I congratulate everyone on the opening of this beautiful church and thank Mr. Salakaia for this remarkable act of charity,” - said Irakli Kadagishvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Self-Government. 

The initiator and main benefactor of the construction project, Giorgi Salakaia, is a prominent businessman, founder of the Badagoni Winery, and an honorary citizen of Senaki. For the Salakaia family, building a church in this location carried deep personal and historical significance.

“Today is a very important day, both for Senaki Municipality and for the whole of Georgia. The new Church of St. Great Martyr Barbara has been consecrated on its historical site, where a church once stood in the 1920s before it was destroyed during the Bolshevik period. At the beginning of the 21st century, we began researching and restoring this site, and many people contributed to this process. It is a great joy to see so many members of the Synod present and to have His Holiness Shio lead the liturgy. I am deeply grateful that people now have a place to come and pray,” - said Giorgi Salakaia.

Abbess Ioana, head of the New Shuamta Monastery, also spoke about the spiritual importance of the event.

“Today is a truly significant day. The consecration of this new temple symbolizes the connection between heaven and earth. There is great joy not only among the people of Senaki but throughout Georgia. This is an extraordinary act of mercy carried out by Mr. Gogi Salakaia and his family, with the support of the entire village. We are also deeply thankful to our Catholicos-Patriarch, Archbishop Shio, without whom this consecration would not have been possible,” - she said.

The Church of St. Great Martyr Barbara in Isula Village, Senaki Municipality, was consecrated by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku.