The Shoaninskaya (or Sheanininskaya) Church, dating back to the late X century, stands as one of Russia’s oldest surviving Christian sites.
Traditionally dedicated to Saint George, the shrine is situated on the southeastern spur of Mount Shoana, overlooking the left bank of the Kuban River near Karachayevsk.
Architecturally, the church follows a traditional Byzantine-influenced cross-in-square plan.
However, due to its precarious location on a narrow, treacherous mountain ridge, the architects were forced to deviate from standard structural conventions – most notably, the side-bays were adapted to accommodate the steep cliffside drop-offs.
In the late XIX century, the church was incorporated into the Noviy Afon (New Athos) monastery network.
During this period, monks conducted extensive restorations—whitewashing the interior walls and constructing nearby living quarters.
Most of these additions were subsequently abandoned during the Soviet era.
While decades of neglect have left the interior largely bare, trace fragments of original X century frescoes remain preserved beneath layers of later plaster.