The Shoaninsky Temple, a Christian cathedral, is one of the Alanian temples built in the first half of the 10th century in modern-day Karachay-Cherkessia. The altar of the temple is consecrated in honor of Saint George the Victorious. The temple is located on the southeastern slope of Mount Shoana, on the left bank of the Kuban River, 7 km north of Karachayevsk.

The temple is designed in the Byzantine architectural tradition and is a three-apsidal and three-nave cross-domed building with four square pillars supporting the arch and dome. The length of the building from west to east is 12.9 m, the height is equal to the length, and the width at the western facade is 8.9 m.

Scholars and travelers have often wondered why the cathedral was built in such an inaccessible location. The rocky outcrops do not allow for a large number of worshippers, and for populous congregations, the church should be closer to the center of the settlement. Researchers suggest that the stone Shoaninsky Temple in the KCR was intended as the residence of the Kuban bishop, with the possibility of organizing a monastery-kinovia hidden from prying eyes. Moreover, Christians believed that it was easier to communicate with God from the mountains.

Christianity penetrated Alania in the 7th century, but it did not take root immediately. Only after three centuries did active church construction begin. Byzantine missionaries chose Mount Shoana for one of the cult buildings. In the valley of the Kuban River, populous settlements were located on both banks, many of whose inhabitants had already accepted Christianity, but they did not have a large cathedral. The mountain was in the center of the parish, and it could be reached by mountain paths. The convenient location appealed to the Byzantine missionaries, which became a decisive factor in choosing the site for the temple. Additionally, the rocky formations provided a reliable foundation.

The Shoaninsky Temple in Karachay-Cherkessia is a monument of history and church architecture. Its value as a testament to ancient culture, despite its modest appearance, is beyond doubt. Researchers have found that until the 18th century, the cathedral housed a rich library, about which there is little information even among leading researchers of Byzantine and Caucasian culture. The German doctor J. Reinaggs, who traveled through the Caucasus, received two ancient church books from the monks, but their fate, like that of the other manuscripts, remains unknown.

The frescoes on the walls of the temple may have been lost forever, as the monks did not care for the preservation of the ancient murals. The nobleman Naryshkin, who visited the temple in 1867, found no images of saints, as the frescoes were hidden under a thick layer of plaster. Unique paintings were accidentally discovered when the residents of the village named after Kosta Khetagurov decided to repair certain parts of the monument in 2007. Unprofessional repairmen roughly knocked off the late plaster, revealing the original coating in places. Now visitors can see the remnants of frescoes, as well as Georgian, Armenian, Greek, Russian, and Arabic inscriptions. Unfortunately, tourists have left their names on the plastered surface, which raises confusion.

Once, the temple had a hanging gallery on the western side. This is indicated by the entrance door, behind which there is an immediate drop. Researcher K.N. Afanasyev established that the Zelenchuk Temple, a 'relative' of the Shoaninsky Cathedral, was likely built by craftsmen from the same architectural school. Both temples share a common element, the pylons with square cross-sections, unlike similar monuments in Abkhazia, where the pylons are cruciform.

The ancient temple on Mount Shoana in Karachay-Cherkessia holds many mysteries. While traveling through the Caucasus, do not miss the opportunity to visit this unique 10th-century structure and touch the centuries-old history of the region.