Khakhuli Monastery ( ka, ხახულის მონასტერი, tr, Haho/Bağbaşi) was a

Georgian Orthodox The Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს სამოციქულო ავტოკეფალური მართლმადიდებელი ეკლესია, tr), commonly ...

monastery in historical

Medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

Georgian Kingdom of

Tao ''Tao'' or ''Dao'' is the natural order of the universe, whose character one's intuition must discern to realize the potential for individual wisdom, as conceived in the context of East Asian philosophy, East Asian religions, or any other phil ...

(modern-day

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...

), in one of the gorges of the Tortum river. The main church is now used as a mosque. Khakhuli was a very important centre of literature and Georgian culture and many Georgian scholars and theologians studied and worked in Khakhuli including Basil of Khakhuli, Ioane Khakhuleli, Davit Tbileli, and Giorgi Mtatsmindeli.

History

Khakhuli Monastery was founded in the second half of the 10th century by King David III Kurapalates and later the community advanced into an economically advanced region including 300 villages and 30 independent minor feudal lords. In the 16th century, prior to the Ottoman conquest of southern Georgian territories, Khakhuli was part of

Kartli Kartli ( ka, ქართლი ) is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari (Kura), on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial rol ...

Catholicate and after the Ottoman conquest of

, Khakhuli got isolated from Georgia.The Ottoman sources refer to the region as ''Haho Gorge'', and sometimes as ''Ishkhani''.

Khakhuli Church

Monastic complex includes Khakhuli Church, Georgian cross-dome church reflecting the early cross-dome style of architecture.

Dome

The Khakhuli Church has a dome with arcs, which is supported by the apse corners and two free-standing piers.

Specifications

Interior, windows, as well as the facades of the church is adorned with ornaments. The west arm is divided into three "naves" and the east arm terminates in a semicircular apse, flanked with one compartment on each side, also topped with small apses. The south window has an interesting decoration: it is topped with radial rays formed of stones of two colors and between the arches of the paired window an image of an eagle can be seen. The drum is furnished with twisted, paired shafts and the arches relying on them.

Treasures of Kakhuli

An Iconic 12th-century

triptych A triptych ( ; from the Greek adjective ''τρίπτυχον'' "''triptukhon''" ("three-fold"), from ''tri'', i.e., "three" and ''ptysso'', i.e., "to fold" or ''ptyx'', i.e., "fold") is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divided ...

Icon of the Mother of God created at the Khakhuli Monastery is one of Georgia's finest examples of medieval Georgian goldsmithery, and is now located in the Art Museum of Georgia. Also, there are several small chapels around the Church, within the circuit wall, one of which dates from the 10th century.

Gallery

File:Tao-Klarjeti.jpg, Statue of the eagle which is with roe File:Khakhuli7.jpg, Inside interior File:Khakhuli6.jpg, Fresco File:Georgia Khakhuli triptych.jpg, The

Khakhuli triptych The Khakhuli triptych ( ka, ხახულის ხატი, ''khakhulis khati'') is a partially preserved large repoussé triptych icon of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) created in medieval Georgia. It incorporates over 100 specimens of Georgian ...

, an iconic Georgian

Triptych A triptych ( ; from the Greek adjective ''τρίπτυχον'' "''triptukhon''" ("three-fold"), from ''tri'', i.e., "three" and ''ptysso'', i.e., "to fold" or ''ptyx'', i.e., "fold") is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divided ...

created here File:Saint George bas relief.jpg, The aerial flight of

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to ...

Notes

References

*''The Spiritual Treasure of Georgia''. Khelovneba Publishers, Tbilisi: 2005.

External links

''Khakhuli'' retrieved from Parliament. G

{{coord, 40, 51, 44, N, 41, 45, 37, E, region:TR-08_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki, display=title Georgian churches in Turkey Christian monasteries established in the 10th century Mosques in Turkey