A new Orthodox church dedicated to Saint Barbara the Great Martyr has been completed in the village of Isuli in western Georgia’s Senaki District. The consecration ceremony was led by Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri), Patriarchal Locum Tenens of the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Church’s press service reported.

According to historical records, the original Church of Saint Barbara was destroyed in the 1920s, shortly after the establishment of Soviet rule. In the mid-20th century, a village school was built on the same site.

The new church was constructed through the initiative and personal funding of Georgian entrepreneur Giorgi Salakaia, founder of the “Badagoni” winery. The idea to restore the lost sanctuary came after a remarkable family discovery.

As Salakaia’s wife told journalists, several years ago the family found a 19th-century deed of sale mentioning the Church of Saint Barbara among their old family documents.

“It seems the document had been hidden so it wouldn’t be discovered during Soviet times. After that, we began searching the archives, and it turned out that there really had been a church here. We decided we had to rebuild it to restore the spiritual meaning of this place,” she said, as quoted by SPNews.

The official opening and consecration took place on November 9, with Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) leading the liturgy.

In his sermon, the metropolitan reminded parishioners of the inner power of faith and the importance of repentance and prayer. He emphasized that evil cannot prevail over a person who lives a true Christian life founded on faith and good deeds.

“If we prayed more often, confessed, and tried to live righteously, no temptation could overcome us. But when a person forgets about the spiritual life, a void appears in the soul—and evil fills that emptiness,” he said.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Metropolitan Shio thanked everyone involved in building the church.

“May Saint Barbara become the protector of your homes and of all the residents of Isuli. This church is a joy not only for your village but for the entire diocese,” he said.