Natela Grigalashvili documents dwindling Doukhobor community in Georgia

Photographer Natela Grigalashvili's series 'La Terra dei Doukhobors' offers an intimate look at the Doukhobors, a Russian-origin Orthodox Protestant community in Georgia facing extinction. Originating three centuries ago in Russia's Tambov province, they were exiled by the Tsar to Georgia's Javakheti region, where they founded eight villages, with Gorelovka as the largest and spiritual center. Known for rejecting material religious symbols like crosses and icons, and emphasizing simplicity, their community has historically been led by both men and women, with a notable number of female spiritual leaders. During the Soviet era, their collective farm in Gorelovka became the second richest in the USSR. However, in the last two decades, many have returned to Russia due to persecution and false promises, leaving only about 150 families, mostly in Gorelovka. Young people are leaving for better education and jobs, and new homeowners unfamiliar with Doukhobor customs are altering the cultural landscape. Grigalashvili's photographs capture their daily life, traditions, and the slow erosion of their culture.