booklet-textpgeorgian Axali.indd

taZari, xedi Crdilo-aRmosavleTisken 

Temple, looking Northeast

saqarTvelos kulturis, ZeglTa dacvisa da sportis saministro 

Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia 

saqarTvelos kulturuli memkvidreobis dacvis erovnuli saagento 

National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia 

giorgi CubinaSvilis saxelobis qarTuli xelovnebis istoriisa da ZeglTa 

dacvis kvlevis erovnuli centri 

George Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art History and Heritage 

Preservation

winamdebare wigniT viwyebT seriis _ `qarTuli 

nivTieri kulturis Zeglebi sazRvargareT~ 

gamcemas. am seriis dafuZnebis saWiroeba drom 

moitana, ukanasknel wlebSi sxvadasxva qveyneb- 

Si `qarTuli kvalis~ _ nairgvari siZveleebis 

_ aRricxvis, kvlevis, konservacia-restavraciis 

mimarTulebiT garkveuli nabijebia gadadgmuli. 

am proeqtebis nawili ukve dasrulda, 

zogic mimdinareobs da maTi ganxorcieleba 

uaxloes momavalSia dagegmili. Sesabamisad, es 

gamocemebi samuSaos mimdinareobasac SeZlebisdagvarad 

aCvenebs mkiTxvels. 

seriis pirveli wigni TurqeTis respublikaSi 

mdebare erT-erT saocrebas _ oSkis taZars 

eZRvneba. 2008 wels Turq kolegebTan erTad 

saqarTvelosa da TurqeTSi pasportizaciafiqsaciis 

erToblivi proeqtis farglebSi 

moxerxda oSkis taZris konstruqciuli, sain- 

Jinro aspeqtebis kvleva. momzadda ramdenime 

mniSvnelovani Zeglis fizikuri gadarCenisa 

da gajansaRebisTvis aucilebeli iuridiuli 

safuZvelic, da rac Zalze arsebiTia, 

ukve realuri xdeba tao-klarjeTis ZaglTa 

restavraciis ganxorcielebac. 

wigni kidev erTxel Segvaxsenebs saqarTvelos 

farglebs gareT arsebuli Cveni kulturuli 

memkvidreobis dacvisa da Seswavlis gadaudeblobas, 

oSkis taZris udides mniSvnelobas Cveni 

kulturuli memkvidreobis did saganZurSi. 

nikoloz vaCeiSvili 

saqarTvelos kulturuli memkvidreobis 

dacvis erovnuli saagentos generaluri 

direqtori 

The volume presented is an outset of the launched 

series of “Monuments of Georgian Material Culture 

Abroad.” Its establishment became highly topical 

thanks to the measures implemented in different 

countries for the purposes of tracking of “Georgian 

Trace”, which envisaged inventory, registration, conservation 

and restoration of various types of Georgian 

antiquities scattered in foreign countries. Some 

of the Projects have already been completed; some 

are in progress, while several of them are to be implemented 

in future. Consequently, the publications 

issued within the scope of this series, apart of the final 

result, will as well refer to the process of projects 

implementation, at list to some extent, which hopefully 

will also be interesting to our readers. 

This first issue is dedicated to the temple of Oshki, 

one of the miracles of Georgian architecture, currently 

located in the Republic of Turkey. Within the 

framework of the Joint Project of Registration of 

Monuments carried out in 2008 in cooperation with 

our Turkish colleagues both in Turkey and Georgia, 

all significant engineering-constructional aspects of 

Oshki temple were studied, coupled with creation of 

the necessary legal grounds for rescue and further 

rehabilitation of other important monuments. What 

is the most important - the opportunity of restoration 

of monuments of Georgian culture located in 

Tao-Klarjeti gradually becomes more and more feasible. 

The book repeatedly outlines the enormous significance 

of Oshki temple for the whole of Georgian 

cultural heritage and can be regarded as one more 

remainder of the badly need of urgent rescue, protection 

and study of samples of our culture located 

outside the country. 

Nikoloz Vacheishvili, 

General Director 

National Agency for Protection of Monuments 

of Cultural Heritage of Georgia

Semdgeneli 

Tamaz dvali 

teqsti: 

nugzar andRulaZe, 

valeri silogava 

fotosuraTebi gadaRebulia saqarTvelos 

kulturuli memkvidreobis dacvis 2007 wlis 

saxelmwifo programis farglebSi 

avtori _ Tamaz dvali 

naxazebi: 

taZris gegma: g. bruxhauzi, r. MEmertensi 

(1973) 

satrapezos gegma: g. bruxhauzi, k. MEvan 

loo (1977) 

Targmani 

liana gabeCava 

dizaini 

giorgi wereTeli 

saliteraturo kontroli 

neli qafianiZe 

kompiuteruli uzrunvelyofa 

irakli xuciSvili 

garekanze: 

taZari, xedi dasavleTisken. 

taZari, interieri, samxreTi mklavis 

afsidis moxatuloba, gaSlili 

gragnili qristes xelSi 

Author 

TAMAZ DVALI 

Text: 

NUGZAR ANDGHULADZE, 

VALERI SILOGAVA 

Photographs were taken within the frame work 

of the 2007 State Program for 

Georgia’s Cultural Heritage 

Author – TAMAZ DVALI 

Drafts: 

Plan of temple: G. BRUCHHAUS , R. MERTENS (1973) 

Plan of refectory: G. BRUCHHAUS, K. VAN LOO (1977) 

Translation 

LIANA GABECHAVA 

Design 

GIORGI TSERETELI 

Literary control 

NELI KAPIANIDZE 

Computer service 

IRAKLI KHUTSISHVILI 

© saqarTvelos kulturuli memkvidreobis dacvis erovnuli saagento 

National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia 

© T. dvali, n. andRulaZe, v. silogava, 2009 

N. Andguladze, T. Dvali, V. Silogava, 2009 

Front cover: 

Temple, looking West. 

Temple, interior, southarm, 

painting of the apse, unfurled 

scroll held by Christ

taZari, interieri, gumbaTqveSa Crd.-das. burji da Crd. mklavis nawili, 

xedi Crdilo-aRmosavleTisken 

Temple, interior, northwestern pier of the dome and part of northarm, 

looking Northeast

6 oSki 

taZari, interieri, samxr. mklavis afsidi, warweris nawili 

Temple, interior, southarm, apse, part of inscription

qarTuli nivTieri kulturis Zeglebi sazRvargareT 

M o n u m e n t s o f G e o r g i a n M a t e r i a l C u l t u r e A b r o a d 

X saukunis xuroTmoZRvruli Zegli 

1 

Tbilisi 2009 T B I L I S I 

1 0 t h C E N T U R Y A R C H I T E C T U R A L M O N U M E N T

∇ 

taZari, eqsterieri, xedi samxreT-aRmosavleTisken 

Temple, exterior, looking Southeast 

oSkis taZari, Sua saukuneebis qarTuli 

xuroTmoZRvrebis erTi-erTi brwyinvale 

Zegli, mdebareobs istoriul samxreTdasavleT 

saqarTveloSi, taoSi (dRes Turqe- 

Tis respublikis farglebSi), TorTumis 

tbis maxloblad, amJamindel sofel CamliiamajSi. 

istoriuli tao uZvelesi droidan qar- 

Tuli tomebiT iyo dasaxlebuli. igi ixsenieba 

jer kidev Zv. w. XII-XI saukuneebis asurul 

da IX-VIII saukuneebis urartul lursmul 

warwerebSi. feodaluri saqarTvelos samefos 

taZari, gegma 

es ZirZveli qarTuli miwa XIII-XIV saukuneebis 

mijnaze Seqmnili politikuri erTeulis _ 

samcxe-saaTabagos SemadgenlobaSi iyo. 1639 

wels, osmaleTsa da irans Soris dadebuli 

sazavo xelSekrulebiT, samcxe-saaTabago 

osmaleTis SemadgenlobaSi Sevida. 

T 

he Oshki cathedral, one of the magnificent 

monuments of Medieval Georgian architecture, 

is situated in historical Southwestern 

Georgia, in the old Georgian province of Tao 

(now within the frontiers of Turkish Republic), 

near the Tortumi Lake, in the present village 

of Chamliyamach. 

The historical Tao in general, since the early 

times has been populated by the Kartvelian 

tribes. Tao, as a historical province, was mentioned 

as early as in the 12th–11th – century 

BC Assyrian and the 9th–8th – century BC 

Temple, plan 

Oshki 

Urartian cuneiform inscriptions. These Georgian 

lands, which were an integral part of the 

Georgian Kingdom, belonged to Samtskhe- 

Saatabago, a political entity created at the 

junction of the 13th – 14th centuries; in the 

year 1639, in keeping with the treaty con- 

9

10 oSki

taZarze SemorCenili, qvaze kveTili da 

saRebaviT Sesrulebuli, mravalricxovani 

qarTuli asomTavruli warweriT dasturdeba, 

rom 963-976 wlebSi oSkSi monasteri 

dauarsebiaT da taZarTan erTad sxva nagebobebi 

auSenebiaT tao-klarjeTis bagrationTa 

samefo saxlis warmomadgenlebis _ 

daviT mefisa (958-1001) da misi Zmis, bagrat 

erisTavTa erisTavis (†966) TaosnobiT. taZris 

mSeneblobas uZRveboda vinme grigoli, 

romelic sxva wyaroebiT cnobili araa. 

taZari, aRm. fasadi, afsidis sarkmlis moCuqurTmebuli 

TavsarTi warweriTurT 

saqarTvelos istoriaSi Tavisi samxedro 

da diplomatiuri moRvaweobiT gamorCeuli 

pirovneba, tao-klarjeTis mefe daviT III, 

bizantiis saimperatoro karze didi pativiT 

iyo miRebuli. mas miniWebuli hqonda jer magistrosis, 

Semdeg kurapalatis sapatio titulebi. 

DdaviTis TiTqmis naxevarsaukunovani 

mefobis dros tao-klarjeTis saxelmwifos 

teritoria metad ganivrco da gaZlierda. am 

dros, misi uSualo SemweobiT, aigo mravali 

monasteri da cixesimagre (garda oSkisa, mis 

taZari, aRm. mklavis aRm. fasadi, xedi dasavleTisken 

Temple, east fasade of eastarm, looking West 

∇ 

Oshki 

cluded between the Ottoman Empire and 

Iran, Samtskhe-Saatabago was incorporated 

in the Ottoman Empire. 

Numerous old Georgian Asomtavruli (uncial) 

inscriptions incised in stone or made in 

paint prove that in the years 963-976 a monastery 

was founded in Oshki. The church and 

other monastic structures were built at the 

behest of the representatives of the Tao-Klarjeti 

house of the Bagrationis (958-1001), King 

David and his brother Bagrat Eristhavta-Eri- 

Temple, east facade, ornamented lintel of apse window with inscription 

stavi (†966). The construction of the church 

was headed by a certain Grigol, who is never 

mentioned in other sources. 

David III, King of Tao-Klarjeti, a political 

figure of a great renown in Georgian history, 

was held in high honour at the court of the 

Byzantine Empire; owing to his military and 

diplomatic activities he was conferred the title 

of Magistros and subsequently that of the 

Kuropalates. During his almost half-a-century 

reign he greatly expanded the borders of his 

11

12 oSki 

dros daarsda xaxulis, oTxTa eklesiisa da 

parxlis monastrebi). 

monasteri Tavis droze aerTianebda 

sxvadasxva daniSnulebis nagebobebs: ioane 

naTlismcemlis saxelze agebul taZars, samlocveloebs, 

satrapezos, skriptoriums, 

sacxovrebel senakebs da sameurneo Senobebs. 

1036 wels taZari nawilobriv (aRmosavleT 

da samxreT afsidebi) mouxatavT 

taos warCinebuli saxelmwifo moRvawis, 

patrikios jojikis dakveTiT (SemorCenilia 

mxatvrobisa da Tanmxlebi warweris 

fragmentebi). 

1022-1025 wlebSi bizantiis imperatorebis 

basili II-isa (976-1025) da misi Zmis konstantine 

VIII-is (1025-1028) brZanebiT taZari 

xelaxla gadauxuravT, xolo gumbaTi dauburavT 

muqwiTlad, mwvaned da moyavisfrod 

moWiquli kramitiT. 

taZris aRmosavleT fasadze yuradRebas 

iqcevs sarkmliszeda qvaze amokveTili oTx- 

taZari, eqsterieri, samxr. Sesasvlelis timpani, grigol 

`saqmesa zedamdgomis~ warwera-angariSi taZris mSeneblobaze 

erTi wlis ganmavlobaSi gaweuli xarjis Sesaxeb 

domain increasing the might of his state. It 

was at this time that at his personal initiative 

and by his assistance many monasteries 

and fortresses were built (apart from Oshki, 

Khakhuli, Otkhta Eklesia and the Parkhali 

monastery were also built). 

In its time the monastery comprised structures 

meant for various purposes: the church 

dedicated to St John the Baptist, various chapels, 

scriptoriums, refectories, monks’ cells 

and structures meant for storage and other 

domestic purposes. 

In 1036 part of the church (east and south 

apses) were adorned with frescoes at the behest 

of Patrician Jojik, an outstanding statesman 

of Tao (some fragments of the wall painting 

with the legends have survived). 

In the years 1022-1025 by the order of the 

Byzantine Emperors Basil II (976-1025) and his 

brother Constantine VIII (1025-1028) the church 

was roofed anew, the dome was covered with 

tiles glazed dark red, green and brownish. 

Temple, exterior, tympanum of south entrance, inscription-report of 

Grigol “supervisor of works” on the costs of the during a year 

construction of the temple

Oshki 

taZari, interieri, Crd. mklavi, xedi CrdiloeTisken 

Temple, interior, northarm, looking North 

13

14 oSki 

taZari, eqsterieri, ktitoruli warwera samxr. Sesasvlelis 

marcxena gverdze 

Temple, exterior, donors inscription on the left side of south entrance 

taZari, eqsterieri, samxr.-das karibWe, xedi CrdiloeTisken 

taZari, aRm. fasadi, lomis gamosaxuleba Sua sarkmlis zemoT 

Temple, east facade, lion over the central window 

taZari, samxr. pastoforiumis aRm. fasadi, warwera sarkmlis 

TavsarTis kideze, detali 

Temple, east facade of southern pastophory, inscription on edge of window brow, detail 

Temple, exterior, southwestern porch, looking North

striqoniani warwera, romelSic didebiT 

arian moxseniebuli taZris mSeneblobis 

moTaveebi bagrati da daviTi, monastris 

pirveli mamasaxlisebi miqaeli da ioane da 

taZris mSeneblobis xelmZRvaneli grigoli. 

warwera 963-966 ww TariRdeba. igi yvelaze 

Zvelia taZris warwerebs Soris. warweris 

qvemoT, sarkmlis warbis orive mxares, amokawrulia 

wreebSi Casmuli borjRali (marcxniv) 

da solomonis varskvlavi (marjvniv) _ 

bagrationTa erT-erTi sagvareulo emblema, 

radganac iTvleba, rom isini daviT winaswarmetyvelis 

STamomavlebi arian. 

samxreTis Sesasvlelis karis timpanze 

wiTeli saRebaviT Sesrulebulia 12-striqoniani 

asomTavruli warwera. masSi aRniSnulia, 

rom eklesia agebulia mefe adarnase III 

kurapalatis (†961) ZeTa, bagratisa (†966) da 

daviTis (†1001) mier, grigolis zedamdgomlobiT. 

aqve aRricxulia taZris mSeneblobis 

yovelwliuri danaxarji. kerZod, taZris 

mSeneblobaze wlis ganmavlobaSi gaicemoda 

20000 drama kalatozebisa da muSebis gasamrjelod 

da qviSis mzidavi xarebis qiraze; 

taZari, eqsterieri, samxr. pastoforiumis samxr. kedeli, `vedreba~ 

flankirebuli maSenebelTa, daviTisa da bagratis figurebiT. 

RmrTismSoblis monoliTuri qandakeba Camovardnilia. 

Oshki 

The four-line inscription incised on the 

stone above the window on the east facade 

is very interesting, it exalts Bagrat and David 

– the initiators of the construction of the 

cathedral; it also mentions the first stewards 

of the monastery Michael and Ioane and the 

master builder Grigol. The inscription is dated 

to the years 963-866, it is the oldest of all the 

inscriptions of the church. On either side of 

the window border a stylized representation 

of the sun (on the left) and Solomon’s star (on 

the right) are delineated within circles – the 

latter is one of the emblems of the Bagrationi 

house; it was believed that the Bagrationis 

were direct descendants of the Prophet David. 

On the tympanum above the southern 

door a 12-line inscription in the Georgian 

Asomtavruli (uncial) script is made in paint; it 

narrates that the church was built by Bagrat 

(†966) and David (†1001), sons of King Adarnase 

Kuropalates, the construction was headed 

by the master builder Grigol; it also mentions 

the annual expenses of the construc- 

Temple, exterior, south wall of southern pastophory, “Deesis” flanked 

by figures of builders, David and Bagrat. 

monolithic sculpture of Virgin has fallen down 

15

16 oSki 

taZari, samxr. pastoforiumis samxr. fasadi, “vedreba”, 

qristes figura 

Temple, south facade of southern pastophory, “Deesis”, figure of Christ

taZari, samxr. pastoforiumis samxr. fasadi, `vedreba~, ktitori bagrat erisTavTa erisTavi 

eklesiis modeliT xelSi 

Temple, south facade of southern pastophory, “Deesis”, donor Bagrat - Duke of Dukes - with model of church 

Oshki 

17

18 oSki 

taZari, samxr. mklavis samxr. fasadi, Sua yru TaRi, detali 

ixarjeboda 5000 fiala Rvino, 50 litra 

rkina, 250 grivi xorbali; mSeneblobaze mudmivad 

muSaobda 70 kalatozi, xuro da mWedeli; 

amasTanave, mSeneblobisTvis riyeze 

akrefil qvas ezideboda 30 xari; rogorc 

Cans sofel grigolwmindis (dRes misi adgilmdebareoba 

ucnobia) karieridan, samSeneblo 

qvas ezideboda 30 jori da imdenive xari. 

kidev raRacas ezideboda 60 xari (Tu ras _ 

ar Cans, radgan warweris teqsti am adgilas 

dazianebulia da nakluli); amas garda, 80 

muSa raRac saqmiT iyo dakavebuli, saxeldobr 

riT, ar irkveva, radgan, teqstis bolo 

nawili naklulia. es unikaluri Sinaarsis 

warwera, romelsac analogi ar moepoveba ara 

marto qarTul, aramed zogad epigrafikaSi, 

taZris mSeneblobis Tanadroulia da 973-976 

wlebiT TariRdeba. 

aseve misi Tanadroulia singuriT Sesrulebuli 

meore qarTuli asomTavruli 

warwera, romelic moTavsebulia taZris 

samxreTi Sesasvlelis marcxena gverdis qvis 

filebze. Tavis droze igi 30-ze metstriqoniani 

iyo. maTgan Cvenamde moaRwia mxolod 

Temple, south facade of southarm, central blind arch, detail 

tion; namely, every year 20 000 drachmas 

were paid as wages to the stone–masons and 

other labourers and also for hiring the oxen 

carrying sand; they spent 5000 cups of wine, 

50 litres of iron, 250 poods (a pood – 16,30 

kg/36 lb) of wheat; 70 stone – masons, joiners 

and blacksmiths were constantly working 

on the construction site; besides that 30 oxen 

carried cobbles from the river bank; 30 mules 

and oxen carried stones from the quarry in 

the village of Grigolcminda (now nothing is 

known about its location), 60 oxen brought 

some other materials (we do not know what, 

as this part of the inscription is damaged); 

apart from that 80 more workers were engaged 

in some other activities, the kind of 

these activities is unknown, for the end of the 

inscription is lacking. This unique inscription, 

which has no analogue not only in Georgian 

but in the available epigraphy in general, was 

created at the same time as the church. 

Another Georgian Asomtavruli inscription, 

made in red paint, which is contemporary 

with the one mentioned above, is situated on

taZari, samxr. mklavis samxr. fasadi, Sua sarkmlis warbi, detali 

taZari, samxr. mklavis samxr. fasadi, Sua sarkmlis warbi, detali 

Oshki 

Temple, south facade of southarm brow of central window, detail 

Temple, south facade of southarm brow of central window, detail 

19

20 oSki 

taZari, samxr. mklavis samxr. fasadi, Sua yru TaRi, arwivisa da 

xaris gamosaxulebebi 

pirvelma 16-ma striqonma. es warwerac ktitoruli 

Sinaarsisa yofila da masSi daviT 

mefe da bagrat erisTavTa erisTavi ixseniebodnen. 

XIX saukunis II naxevarSi adgilobrivma 

mosaxleobam eklesiis samxreT mklavSi 

jame moawyo, romelic 1983 wels, axali 

james agebis Semdeg, gaauqmes. 2003 wels, 

Zveli james SemorCenili kedlis daSlisas, 

aRmoCnda masSi Cadgmuli, skulpturuli 

gamosaxulebebiT Semkuli ori 

SesaniSnavi memorialuri stela (amJamad 

daculia arzrumis muzeumSi). erT maTganze 

(simaRle _ 130 sm) gamosaxulni 

arian: zemoT _ ioane naTlismcemeli da 

mis qvemoT _ bagrat erisTavTa erisTavi 

(warweris mixedviT ukve gardacvlili), 

xolo meoreze (simaRle _157 sm): zemoT _ 

nikopeis tipis RmrTismSobeli yrmiT da 

mis qvemoT _ daviT kurapalati. stelebze 

SemorCenili mravalricxovani warwerebidan, 

erT-erTSi aRniSnulia taZris mSeneblobis 

dawyebis zusti TariRi _ 963 wlis 

2 oqtomberi, samSabaTi. 

Temple, south facade of southarm, central blind arch, 

images of a eagle and bull 

the stone slabs inserted in the masonry to the 

left of the entrance. In its time it consisted of 

more than 30 lines, of which only the first 16 

lines have come down to this day; it was a 

donor inscription mentioning the names of 

the donors - King David and Bagrat Eristhavta-Eriastavi. 

In the latter half of the 19th century local 

population turned the southern arm of 

the church into a mosque. In 1983, after the 

construction of a new mosque, the former 

stopped functioning. In 2003, when pulling 

down its remaining wall two exquisite memorial 

steleae, which were incorporated in the 

wall, were discovered (now the steleae are 

preserved in the Erzurum Museum); one of 

them (height 130cm) shows St John the Baptist 

(above) and Bagrat Eristhavta-Eristavi (below), 

already deceased by that time according 

to the inscription. On the other (height 

157cm) one the Nikopea-type Virgin with 

Child is represented (above), below it David 

Kuropalates is portrayed; of the numerous inscriptions 

that have survived on the steleae

taZari, samxr. mklavis samxr. fasadi, aRm. yru TaRi, nadirobis 

scena meore sarTulis oTaxis sarkmlis TavsarTze 

taZari, samxr. mklavis samxr. fasadi, aRm. yru TaRi, meore sarTulis oTaxis 

sarkmlis qvemoT mdebare qva, lomebisa da xariremis Serkinebis sceniTurT 

Oshki 

Temple, south facade of southarm, eastern blind arch, 

lintel of second-floor window with hunting scene 

Temple, south facade of southarm, eastern blind arch, block 

below the second-floor window. Two lions attacking a stag 

21

taZari, samxr. mklavis samxr. fasadi, Sua yru TaRi, miqael mTavarangelozi 

Temple, south facade of southarm, central blind arch, archangel Michael

taZari, samxr. mklavis samxr. fasadi, Sua yru TaRi, gabriel mTavarangelozi 

Temple, south facade of southarm, central blind arch, archangel Gabriel

24 oSki 

taZari, aRm. mklavis aRm. fasadi, Sua yru TaRis 

CrdiloeTi kapiteli 

oSkis taZari trikonqis tipis jvar-gumbaTovani 

nagebobaa (sigrZe SigniT _ 40.6 m, 

sigane _ 27 m, simaRle gumbaTis wveramde 

_ 34 m). misi aRmosavleTis, samxreTis da 

CrdiloeTis mklavebi, rogorc es trikonqis 

tipis nagebobebisTvisaa damaxasiaTebeli, 

dasrulebulia afsidebiT, xolo dasavle- 

Tis mklavi sworkuTxaa. samive afsidis orive 

mxares, or sarTulad, ganTavsebulia naxevarwriuli 

afsidebiT dasrulebuli, TiTqmis 

erTi zomis da moyvanilobis kamarovani 

sadgomebi. 

dasavleTis mklavis dasavleT kedelTan 

Tavdapirvelad mowyobili yofila patronike. 

dasavleTis mklavs CrdiloeTiT ekvris 

orsarTuliani galerea, romlis meore sar- 

Tuli qalebis samyofeli, e. w. saqalebo 

yofila. mis qveS mdebareobs afsidiT dasrulebuli 

kamarovani sadgomi. dasavleTis 

mklavis samxreT kedlis gaswvriv garedan 

gayolebulia zigzagisebri saxuraviT gadaxuruli 

Ria galerea-karibWe. misi Sida sivrce 

oTxi svetiT or nawiladaa gayofili. CrdiloeTis 

nawili oTxi kvadratuli, brtyeli 

Temple, east facade of eastarm, northern 

capital of central blind arch 

one refers to the exact date of the beginning 

of the construction - Tuesday, October 2, the 

year 963. 

The church of Oshki is a triconch-type cruciform-domed 

structure; the interior length is 

40.6m; the width – 27m; the height up to the 

apex of the dome – 34m; its eastern, southern 

and northern arms end in apses, which is 

characteristic of the triconch-type structures, 

the western arm is rectangular. On both sides 

of each apse there are vaulted chambers of 

almost similar size and outline, arranged in 

two tiers, each terminating in a semicircular 

apse. 

Originally there seems to have been a choir 

at the west wall of the western arm. In the 

north the western arm is adjoined by a fourstorey 

gallery, its first floor was ladies’ chapel 

(“Sakalebo”), below it there was a vaulted 

chamber terminating in an apse. An open gallery-porch, 

covered with a zig-zag roof on the 

outside, extends along the south wall of the 

western arm. Its interior space is divided into 

two parts by four columns. The northern part

taZari, samxr. pastoforiumis aRm. fasadi, sarkmeli Temple, east facade of southern pastophory, window 

taZari, aRm. mklavis aRm. fasadi, Crd. niSi, 

afsidis sarkmlis TavsarTi 

Oshki 

Temple, east facade of eastarm, northern niche, 

lintel of apse window 

25

26 oSki 

taZari, das. mklavis das. fasadi, Sewyvilebuli sarkmeli, detali 

Temple, west facade of westarm, twin window, detail 

taZari, das. mklavis das. fasadi, Sewyvilebuli sarkmeli, detali Temple, west facade of westarm, twin window, detail

taZari, das. mklavis das. fasadi, wm. simeon mesvete umrwemesi Temple, west facade of westarm, sculpture of St Simeon Stylites the younger 

segmentovani gumbaTiT gadaxuruli ubisgan 

da afsidisgan Sedgeba. samxreTis nawili 

SedarebiT viwroa da samxreTiT oTxi farTo 

TaRiTaa gaxsnili. oTxive svetis zedapiri 

mdidruladaa morTuli CuqurTmebiTa da 

figuruli reliefebiT. maT qarTul xuroTmoZrRvrebaSi 

analogi ar moeZebneba. 

taZris interierSi SemorCenilia 

sxvadasxva drois mxatvrobis fragmentebi: 

mSeneblobis droindelia samxreT pastoforiumis 

konqSi da samxreT-dasavleT gumbaTqveSa 

burjis niSaSi gamosaxuli `qristes 

didebis~ scenis naSTebi; 1036 wels ganekuTvneba 

sakurTxevlis afsidSi gamosaxuli 

kompozicia, sadac warmodgenili yofila 

aRsaydrebuli qriste mTavarangelozebs 

Soris, qvemoT _ RmrTismSobeli oranta 

mociqulTa Soris da ioane naTlismcemeli, 

xolo sul bolos _ eklesiis mamebi, wmindanebi 

da diakvnebi (moRweulia mxolod 

fragmentebi); amave droisaa samxreT mklavis 

afsidSi warmodgenili `jvarcmis~ da 

`vedrebis~ dazianebuli kompoziciebi. maT 

Oshki 

consists of an apse and a bay covered with a 

shallow, square, segmented dome. The southern 

part is comparatively narrower, opening 

through wide arches in the south. All the four 

columns are lavishly adorned with ornaments 

and figural reliefs; they have no analogues in 

Georgian architecture. 

In the church interior fragments of wall 

painting dating to different times have survived; 

the remnants of the fresco “Christ in 

Glory”, represented in the niche of the southwestern 

subcupolar pier, is contemporary 

with the construction of the church; in the 

year 1036 the composition represented in the 

chancel apse was created, it showed Christ Enthroned 

among the Archangels, below there 

was the Virgin Orans among the Apostles and 

St John the Baptist, at the very end the Fathers 

of the Church, saints and deacons (preserved 

only fragmentarity) were portrayed; to 

the same period belongs the damaged compositions 

of “the Crucifixion” and “the Deesis” 

depicted in the apse of the southern arm, 

27

28 oSki 

taZari, Crd. mklavis Crd. fasadi, sarkmeli, detali Temple, north facade of northarm, window, detail 

taZari, samxr.-das. minaSenis das. fasadi, angelozi 

Temple, west facade of southwestern annex, angel

taZari, eqsterieri, xedi aRmosavleTisken 

Temple, exterior, looking East 

Oshki 

29

30 oSki

Oshki 

31 

taZari, eqsterieri, gumbaTi, xedi aRmosavleTisken 

Temple, exterior, dome, looking East

32 oSki 

taZari, eqsterieri, gumbaTi, detali 

taZari, eqsterieri, gumbaTi, detali 

Temple, Exterior, Dome, DetaTemple, exterior, dome, detail 

Temple, Exterior, Dome, DetaTemple, exterior, dome, detail

Oshki 

taZari, interieri, xedi aRmosavleTisken 

Temple, interior, looking East 

33

34 

Çamlıyamaç Oşki manastırı

taZari, interieri, gumbaTi, xedi CrdiloeTisken 

Temple, interior, dome, looking North

36 oSki 

taZari, interieri, gumbaTi da gumbaTqveSa konstruqcia 

Sorisaa scenebi mefe bagrat IV-isa (1027- 

1072) da bizantiel princesa elenes qorwili 

taoSi mdebare banas taZarSi; aqvea moxatulobis 

damkveTis _ jojik patrikiosis figura. 

kompozicias axlda, amJamad fragmentulad 

SemorCenili, qarTuli asomTavruli 

warwerebi. samxreT-dasavleT galereis 

afsidSi SemorCenilia RmrTismSoblisa da 

angelozis gamosaxulebaTa naSTebi. 

interierSi, dasavleTis orive gumbaTqveSa 

burjSi, CarTulia mefisa da winamZ- 

Rvris dasajdomi TiTo sataxte niSi; maTgan 

dekoratiuladaa gaformebuli samxreTdasavleT 

burjis niSi, romlis konqis orive 

mxares moTavsebulia oSkis maSenebelTa _ 

daviTisa da bagratis _ reliefuri biustebi, 

wiTeli saRebaviT Sesrulebuli asom- 

Tavruli warwerebiT (isini TiTqmis mTlianad 

waSlilia). TiToeuli maTganis gverdiT, 

fonze, warwerilia wmindanis saxeli: daviTis 

marjvena mxares _ RmrTismSoblis, bagratis 

mxares _ wm. ioane naTlismcemlis. niSis zeda 

Temple, interior, dome and supportve system 

among them there are scenes of King Bagrat 

IV’s (1027-1072) wedding to Hellene, a Byzantine 

princess in the Bana church located 

in Tao; here is a portrait of Jojik the Patrician, 

who commissioned the adorning of the 

Church with wall painting. The composition 

was accompanied by Georgian Asomtavruli 

inscriptions, which have come down to this 

day only fragmentarily; in the apse of the 

south-western gallery remnants of the representations 

of the Virgin and angels have survived. 

In the interior, in both western subcupolar 

piers, there are niches (one in each) for the 

thrones of the king and the father-superiors, 

of which the niche of the south-western pier 

is adorned with decorative ornaments, its 

conch being flanked by the relief busts of the 

builders of the church David and Bagrat, supplied 

with Asomtavruli inscriptions, made in 

red paint (they are almost completely obliterated). 

At the side of each of them the name 

taZari, interieri, das. mklavi, xedi Crdilo-dasavleTisken 

Temple, interior, westarm looking, Northwest

Oshki 

37

38 oSki 

taZari, interieri, gumbaTqveSa Crd.-aRmos. burjis mimdebare 

kvadratuli sivrce, detali 

taZari, interieri, gumbaTqveSa Crd.-das. burjis mimdebare 

kvadratuli sivrce, detali 

Temple, interior, square space at northeastern pier of the dome, detail 

Temple, interior, square space at northwestern pier of the dome, detail 

taZari, interieri, gumbaTqveSa Crd.-das. burji 

Temple, interior, northwestern pier of the dome

40 oSki

taZari, interieri, niJariani niSi daviT III magistrosisa da misi 

Zmis bagrat erisTavTa erisTavis reliefebiT 

taZari, interieri, niJariani niSi, detali, daviT III-is reliefi 

Temple, interior, detail of cockleschell niche, David III 

taZari, interieri, gumbaTqveSa samxr.-das. burji da niJariani niSi 

Temple, interior, southwestern pier of the dome and cockleshell niche 

Oshki 

Temple, interior, cockleshell niche flanked by reliefs of David III, 

Magistros and his brother, Bagrat, Duke of Dukes 

taZari, interieri, niJariani niSi, detali, bagratis reliefi 

Temple, interior, detail of cockleshell niche, Bagrat 

41

42 oSki

Oshki 

taZari, interieri, samxr. mklavis afsidi, moxatulobis fragmenti 

Temple, interior, apse of southarm, fragment of wall painting 

43

44 oSki 

nawilSi `qristes didebis~ freskuli gamosaxuleba 

yofila, rac `vedrebis~ Semoklebuli 

versiaa. 

garedan taZris mklavebis kedlebi (garda 

dasavleTisa) morTulia yru TaRebiTa da 

maTSi CarTuli sxvadasxva zomis samkuTxa 

niSebiT. centrisken mzard TaRebSi mravalferovani 

mcenareuli da geometriuli 

CuqurTmebia cxovelTa, frinvelTa da 

calkeul simboloTa gamosaxulebebiT. 

morTulobis mxriv gamoirCeva samxreTis 

fasadi: samxreTis mklavis Sua TaRSi, sarkmlis 

zemoT, gamosaxulia arwivi, romelic 

brWyalebiT xars Cafrenia. TaRis zeda areSi, 

erTmaneTis gverdiT, frontalurad warmodgenilia 

ori mTavarangelozi Sesabamisi 

warwerebiT: marcxniv _ miqaeli, marjvniv _ 

gabrieli. 

pastoforiumis samxreT kedelze warmodgenilia 

xuTi monumenturi figurisgan Sedgenili 

`vedrebis~ kompozicia. TiToeuli 

figura kirqvis cal-calke blokzea 

gamokveTili. kompoziciis SuaSi qristes 

taZari, interieri, samxr. mklavis afsidi, 

moxatulobis fragmenti 

of a saint is inscribed: to the right of David 

there is the name of the Virgin, on the side 

of Bagrat there is that of St John the Baptist. 

There seems to have been a fresco representation 

of “Christ in Glory”, which is an abridged 

version of “the Deesis”. 

The exterior walls of the church arms (except 

the western ones) are adorned with 

blind arches and triangular niches of various 

sizes inserted within; in the arches, growing 

in size towards the centre, there are various 

kinds of floral and geometric ornaments and 

representations of animals, birds and separate 

symbols. 

The ornamentation of the south front is 

the most noteworthy: above the window, in 

the middle arch of the southern arm, there 

is a representation of an eagle with its talons 

sunk in the back of a bull. In the upper area 

of the arch there are frontal figures of two 

archangels accompanied with corresponding 

legends, Michael - on the left, Gabriel – on 

the right. 

Temple, interior, apse of southarm, 

fragment of wall painting

taZari, interieri, sakurTxevlis moxatuloba, 

warwerebis fragmentebi 

taZari, interieri, samxr. mklavis afsidis sarkmeli, 

moxatulobis fragmenti 

Oshki 

Temple, interior, wall painting in the chancel apse, 

fragments of inscription 

Temple, interior, southarm, fragment of 

wall painting in the apse window 

45

46 oSki

Oshki 

taZari, interieri, Crd. mklavis afsidi, moxatulobis fragmenti 

Temple, interior, northarm, apse, fragment of wall painting 

47

taZari, interieri, aRm. mklavis afsidi, moxatulobis fragmenti 

Temple, interior, eastarm, apse, fragment of wall painting

taZari, interieri, galerea, xedi dasavleTisken 

Temple, interior, gallery, looking West

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, xedi dasavleTisken 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, looking West

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, xedi aRmosavleTisken 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, looking East

52 oSki 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, “lambaqisebri” gumbaTi 

frontaluri gamosaxulebaa, zeaRmarTuli 

makurTxebeli marjveniT; mis aRmosavleTiT 

amokveTili yofila vertikaluri warwera, 

romlisganac ori aso SemorCa; qristes marjvniv 

patiosani TvlebiT Semkul fexsadgamze 

mdgomi, macxovrisaken vedrebis JestiT 

The south wall of the pastophory shows 

a composition of the “Deesis” consisting of 

five monumental figures, each figure carved 

in a separate limestone block. In the middle 

of the composition there is a frontal figure of 

Christ, with his hand raised in benediction; to

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, sauser dome 

xelebgawvdili RmrTismSoblis figura iyo 

(ganZis maZiebelTa mier, kompoziciis qvemoT, 

kedlis gamongrevis Sedegad, zemonaxsenebi 

RvTismSoblisgamosaxulebiani qvis bloki 

Camovarda. igi karga xans miwaze esvena, bolo 

wlebSi ki daikarga); qristes marcxniv wm. ioane 

Oshki 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, rvawaxnaga burji 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, octahedral column 

his right there was a vertically carved inscription 

of which only two letters have survived; 

to Christ’s right there used to be the Virgin’s 

figure standing on a stool inlaid with precious 

stones, her arms were stretched out in supplication 

(when treasure-hunters broke through 

53

54 oSki 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, rvawaxnaga burji, 

wm. svimeon mesvete 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, rvawaxnaga burji, detali 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, octahedral column, detail 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, octahedral column, 

St Simeon the Stylites 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe rvawaxnaga burji, 

grigolis reliefi. d. uinfildis foto (1968) 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, octahedral column, relief of Grigol. 

Photo by D. Winfield (1968)

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, rvawaxnaga 

burji, `vedreba~. d. uinfildis foto (1968) 

naTlismcemlis gamosaxulebaa. `vedrebis~ 

jgufis orive mxares, Sesabamisi warwerebiT, 

warmodgenilia ktitorebi: marcxena mxares 

_ bagrat erisTavTa erisTavi, xolo marjvniv 

_ misi Zma, mefe daviT III. orives xelSi 

uWiravs eklesiis modeli, acvia mdidrulad 

morTuli samosi; orTaves adgas oTxkuTxa 

Saravandi da Zvirfasi qvebiT Semkuli gvirgvini 

(SemorCenilia mxolod daviTis gvirgvinis 

nawili). mTeli kompoziciis foni adre 

mewamuli feriT yofila daferili. aRsaniSnavia, 

rom `vedrebis~ amgvari kompozicia, 

ara mxolod qarTul, aramed qristianul 

Oshki 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, 

octahedral column, “Deesis”. Photo by D. Winfield (1968) 

the part of the wall below the composition, 

the block bearing this composition, fell out; 

for quite a long time it had been lying on the 

ground, but not long ago it disappeared). 

To Christ’s right St John the Baptist is depicted. 

On both sides of “the Deesis” the 

donors are represented with corresponding 

legends, on the left Bagrat Eristavta-Eristavi 

is portrayed, on the right - his brother King 

David III. Both hold the model of the church, 

they are clad in lavishly ornamented robes; 

both have rectangular haloes and crowns 

set with precious stones (only part of David’s 

55

56 oSki 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, rvawaxnaga burji, 

wm. nino. d. uinfildis foto (1968) 

xelovnebaSi, pirvelad swored aq, oSkSia 

dadasturebuli. kompoziciis zemoT da 

gverdebze moTavsebuli iyo wiTeli saRebaviT 

Sesrulebuli, ktitorul-memorialuri 

Sinaarsis ramdenime asomTavruli warwera, 

romelTa teqstebi cnobilia n. sargisianisa 

(1861) da e. TayaiSvilis (1917) mier Sesrulebuli 

gadmonawerebiT. 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, octahedral column, 

St Nino. Photo by D. Winfield (1968) 

crown has survived) on their heads. Earlier 

the background of the whole composition 

was painted purple. It should be noted that 

such a composition of “the Deesis” was attested 

for the first time here, in Oshki, not 

only in Georgian but in all the Christian art 

in general. Above the composition and at

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, rvawaxnaga burjis 

kapiteli, tetramorfi 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, 

rvawaxnaga burjis kapiteli 

Oshki 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, capital of octahedral column, 

tetramorph 


capital of octahedral column 

57

58 oSki 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, 

rvawaxnaga burji, wm. kozmani 

taZari, interieri, samxr.-das. karibWe, rvawaxnaga burji, detali 


capital of octahedral column, St Cosmas 

Temple, interior, southwestern porch, octahedral column, detail

taZari, eqsterieri, samxr. mklavis karibWe, 

xedi Crdilo-aRmosavleTisaken 

Temple, exterior, porch of southarm, looking 

Northeast 

Oshki 

59

60 oSki

taZris dasavleT fasadis RerZze uxvad 

Semkuli Sewyvilebuli sarkmelia. maTi 

TaRebis SeerTebis adgilis zemoT gamosaxulia 

samsafexurovan svetze mdgomi, xelebapyrobili 

wm. svimeon mesvetis reliefuri 

biusti. 

samxreT galereis oTxive sveti morTulia 

CuqurTmebiTa da figuruli reliefebiT. maT 

Soris gamoirCeva dasavleT kvadratis rvawaxnaga 

svetis (simaRle _ 2.7 m) Semkuloba: 

svetis kapitels wriulad gars evleba angelozebis, 

mTavarangelozebis, serafimebis, 

qerubimebis da tetramorfebis reliefuri 

satrapezo, gegma 

gamosaxulebebi. yvelas axlda ganmartebiTi 

warwerebi, romelTagan, amJamad, mxolod ramdenime 

gairCeva. figurebi Zowisferi, lurji 

da mwvane ferebiT yofila daferili. svetis 

dasavleT mxares warmodgenilia taZris 

mSeneblobis xelmZRvanelis grigolis muxlmodrekili 

figura, romelic mimarTulia 

dRes ukve dakarguli `vedrebis~ kompoziciisaken 

(2000 wels kompozicia da saqarTvelos 

ganmanaTleblis wm. ninos reliefuri 

gamosaxuleba moWres da taZridan gaitanes. 

amJamad maTi adgilsamyofeli ucnobia). 

amave mxares, kapitelis Tavze, beris samosSi 

wverosani wm. svimeon sakvirvelTmoqmedia 

gamosaxuli. 

∇ 

taZari, eqsterieri, samxr. mklavis karibWe, samxr.-das. boZi, detali 

Temple, exterior, porch of south crossarm, southwestern pier, detail 

Oshki 

its sides there were several donor–memorial 

Asomtavruli inscriptions in red (the texts 

were copied in 1861 by N. Sargisian and 1917 

by E. Takaishvili). 

On the west facade there are richly ornamented 

twinned windows. Above the junction 

of their arches a relief bust of St Simeon 

the Stylite with his arms raised is depicted, 

he stands on a three-stepped column. 

All the four columns of the southern gallery 

are embellished with ornaments and 

figured reliefs, of which the ornamentation 

of the octahedral column (height – 2.7m) of 

Refectory, plan 

the western square stands out vividly: relief 

representations of angels, archangels, seraphim, 

cherubim and tetramorphs extend all 

round its capital; each was accompanied with 

a legend of which only some letters can be 

discerned now. The figures were painted purple, 

dark blue and green. The western side 

of the column shows the kneeling figure of 

the master builder of the church Grigol, facing 

the now–lost composition of “the Deesis” 

(in 2000 the composition and the relief 

representation of St Nino, the illuminator of 

Georgia, were cut out and taken away, now 

their location is unknown). Above the capital 

on the same side a bearded representation of 

61

62 oSki

Oshki 

satrapezo, interieri, xedi dasavleTisken 

Refectory, interior, looking West 

63

64 oSki 

skriptoriumi, interieri, xedi aRmosavleTisken 

skriptoriumi, interieri, xedi samxreT-dasavleTisken 

Scriptorium, interior, looking East 

Scriptorium, interior, looking Southwest

skriptoriumi, interieri, Crd.-aRm. trompi 

svetis Crdilo-dasavleTi da samxreTdasavleTi 

gverdebis odnav amozidul zedapirebze 

siriel mkurnalTa – wm. kozmanisa 

(CrdiloeTiT) da wm. damianes (samxreTiT) 

mozrdili naxevarfigurebia gamosaxuli. 

orTaves axlavs wiTeli saRebaviT Sesrulebuli 

asomTavruli warwerebi. 

dasavleTi mklavis samxreT kedelTan 

yofila miwisqveSa samnawiliani kamarovani 

kripta, romelic amJamad qva-RorRiTaa 

amovsebuli. 

eklesiis Crdilo-aRmosavleTiT, daaxl. 

60 metrze, SemorCenilia satrapezos naS- 

Tebi. masze Crdilo-aRmosavleTis mxridan 

midgmulia kvadratuli gegmis gumbaTovani 

nageboba _ monastris skriptoriumi da biblioTeka. 

taZris samxreT-dasavleTiT, 250 m-is daSorebiT, 

ori samlocvelos naSTia. iTvleba, 

rom isini agebulia taZarze cota xniT adre. 

oSkis monasteri, rogorc erT-erTi 

umniSvnelovanesi sasuliero centri, 

mwignobrobisa da ganaTlebis didi kerac 

iyo. aq sxvadasxva dros cxovrobda da moR- 

Oshki 

Scriptorium, interior, northeastern squinch 

St Simeon the Miracle-Maker, clad in monk’s 

garb, is depicted. 

The slightly raised surfaces of the northwestern 

and south-western sides of the column 

show large, half–length figures of the 

Syrian healers St Cosmas (in the north) and 

St Damiane (in the south), both accompanied 

with Asomtavruli inscriptions in red. 

Near the south wall of the western arm 

there once was an underground three–chamber 

vaulted crypt, now it is filled with debris 

and rubble. 

At a distance of about 60m to the northwest 

of the church there are remnants of the 

refectory; in the north-west it is attached by 

a domed structure, square in plan – the scriptorium 

and library of the monastery. 

250m away to the south-west of the church 

there are ruins of two chapels, they are considered 

to have been built a little earlier than 

the church. 

The Oshki Monastery, as one of the most 

significant monastic centres was a great educational 

seat as well. At various times many 

65

66 oSki 

stela RvTismSoblisa yrmiT da daviT mefis gamosaxulebiT. v. silogavas foto (2003) 

Stele with the images of the Virgin with the Child and King David. Photo by V. Silogava (2003)

taZari, interieri, jamesgan darCenil kedelSi Cadgmuli 

stelis nawili. v. silogavas foto (2003) 

Temple, interior, part of a stele reused in remain of wall of the mosque. 

Photo by V. Silogava (2003) 

vaweobda araerTi TvalsaCino saxelmwifo 

moRvawe, mwignobari, RmrTismetyveli, himnografi, 

kaligrafi da xelovani. skriptoriumis 

kedlebSi Seqmnili, gadawerili 

da naTargmnia dRemde moRweuli araerTi 

didebuli Zegli, romlebic daculia saqarTvelosa 

da Zvel qarTul samonastrosamwerlobo 

centrSi, aTonis iverTa monasterSi 

(ivironi, iverioni). maT Sorisaa 

979-980 wlebSi qarTveli saxelmwifo da 

sasuliero moRvawis, daviT kurapalatis 

saxelganTqmuli sardlis, aTonis iverTa 

monastris erT-erTi maSeneblis, taoeli 

didebulis Tornike erisTavis SekveTiT 

gadawerili da amJamad aTonze imave monasterSi 

daculi e. w. oSkis bibliis teqstis 

sruli qarTuli Targmani; daviT oSkelisa 

da arqipos mier episkopos stefane mtbevaris 

dakveTiT 995 wels gadawerili e. w. 

tbeTis saxareba, romelic amJamad peterburgSi, 

ruseTis erovnul biblioTekaSi 

inaxeba; saqarTveloSi, mestiis muzeumSi 

Oshki 

RvTismSobeli `vedrebis~ kompoziciidan. 

v. silogavas foto (2003) 

The Virgin from “Deesis”. Photo by V. Silogava (2003) 

outstanding statesmen, scholars, theologians, 

hymnists, calligraphers and artists lived and 

were active here. Many great monuments of 

literature that were created, copied or translated 

within its walls, have come down to this 

day, they are preserved in Georgia and at the 

Georgian Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos, 

among which there is a complete translation 

of the so - called Oshki Bible copied here in 

the years 979-980 (now preserved at the Iviron 

Monastery on Mt. Athos); it was commissioned 

by Tornike Eristavi, a nobleman from 

Tao, a great statesman and religious figure, 

David Kuropalates’ famous commander-inchief, 

one of the founders of the Iviron Monastery 

on Mt. Athos; in the year 995 Bishop 

Stepane Mtbevari commissioned David Oshkeli 

and Archipos to make a copy of the 1st 

Gospel of Tbeti, now preserved at the National 

Library of Russia in Petersburg; the Oshki 

Gospels adorned with an exquisite title-page 

cross and miniatures of the Evangelists, was 

67

68 

oSki 

stela iovane naTlismcemlisa da bagrat erisTavTa erisTavis 

gamosaxulebiT. v. silogavas foto (2003) 

Stele with images of St John the Baptist and Bagrat Duke of Dukes. 


jvris gamosaxuleba ganmartebiTi warweriT daviT 

mefis stelaze. v. silogavas foto (2003) 

Image of cross and its explanatory inscription on the stele 

of King David. Photo by V. Silogava (2003) 

ktitoruli warwera bagrat erisTavTa erisTavis stelaze. 


Donor inscription on the stele of Bagrat Duke of Dukes. 


stela, daviT mefis gamosaxuleba, detali. 


Stele, image of King David, detail. 

Photo by V. Silogava (2003)

daculia 1033 wels oSkSi gadawerili saxareba-oTxTavi 

SesaniSnavi satitulo jvriTa 

da maxarebelTa miniaturebiT. oSkis 

monasterSi mravlad iqmneboda xatebi, 

jvrebi da saeklesio nivTebi. maT Soris 

Cvenamde moaRwia daviT kurapalatis mier 

dakveTilma vercxlis mooqrulma sawinamZ- 

Rvre jvarma. igi X saukunis miwuruls Seusrulebia 

asaT oqromWedels (daculia saqarTvelos 

erovnul muzeumSi). 

oSkis didebulma taZarma udidesi roli 

Seasrula qarTuli saeklesio arqiteqturis 

Semdgom ganviTarebaSi. 

es brwyinvale, dResdReobiT dangrevis 

piras mdgari Zegli, gadaudebel Svelas 

iTxovs. 

Oshki 

copied at the Oshki Monastery too in the year 

1033; it is preserved at the Mestia Museum. 

Numerous icons, crosses and other church 

items were also created in Oshki; among 

them was a gold plated silver processional 

cross made at the behest of David Kurapalates; 

it was created at the end of the 10th 

century by the goldsmith Asat (preserved at 

the Georgian National Museum). 

The great church of Oshki played a tremendous 

role in the further development of 

Georgian architecture. 

This magnificent monument, now on the 

verge of complete destruction, calls for an 

immediate help. 

taZari, interieri, gumbaTqveSa samxr.-das. burji, detali 

Temple, interior, southwestern pier of the dome, detail 

69

ZiriTadi literatura GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY 

aladaSvili, n., oSkis taZris `vedrebis~ reliefi da misi mimarTeba bizantiur 

skulpturasTan, saqarTvelos siZveleni, 4-5, Tbilisi, 2003. 

giviaSvili, i., koplataZe, i., tao-klarjeTi, Tbilisi, 2004. 

TayaiSvili, e., 1917 wlis arqeologiuri eqspedicia samxreT saqarTveloSi, Tbilisi, 1960. 

menabde, l., Zveli qarTuli mwerlobis kerebi, I-II, Tbilisi, 1962. 

silogava, v., gamokvleva oSkis taZris qtitorTa reliefebis Sesaxeb axlad aRmoCenili 

epigrafikuli Zeglebis mixedviT, macne, istoriis... seria, 1, Tbilisi, 1977. 

silogava, v., oSki - X saukunis memorialuri taZari, Tbilisi, 2006. 

SoSiaSvili, n., lapidaruli warwerebi, I, aRmosavleT da samxreT saqarTvelo (V-X ss), 

Tbilisi, 1980. 

xuskivaZe, l., oSkis skulpturul vedrebaTa Taviseburebebis Sesaxeb, saqarTvelos 

siZveleni, 3, 2003. 

jobaZe, v., oSkis taZari, Tbilisi, 1991. 

jobaZe, v., adreuli Sua saukuneebis qarTuli monastrebi istoriul taoSi, klarjeTsa da 

SavSeTSi, Tbilisi, 2007. 

Brosset, M., Incriptions géorgiennes et autres, recueillies par la P. Nerses Sargisian, Mekhitariste de S. Lazare, 

et expliquées par M. Brosset, Mémoiries de ľ Academie Impériale des sciences de St. Petersbourg, VII série, 

Tome VIII, № 10, St. Petersburg, 1864. 

Djobadze, W., The Donor Reliefs and the Date of the Church at Oški, Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 1976. 

Djobadze, W., The Georgian Churches of Tao-Klarjet c 

i: Construction Methods and Materials, 

Orients Christianus, 62, 1978. 

Djobadze, W., Four Deesis Themes in the Church of Oški, Orients Christianus, 72, 1988. 

Djobadze, W., Early Medieval Georgian Monasteries in Historic Tao, Klarjet c 

i and Šhavšet c 

i, Stuttgart, 1992. 

Kadiroğlu, Tao-Klarjeti, Dictionary of Art, Oxford, Macmillan, 1996. 

Piguet-Panayotova, D., The Church of Oški, Architectonics and Ornaments, Orients Christianus, 86, 2002. 

Silogava, V., Oshki – 10th century Memorial Church, Tbilisi, 2006. 

Thierry, N., Peintures historiques d’Oski (Tao), Revue des études géorgiennes et caucasiennes, 2, Paris, 1986. 

Winfield, D., Some Early Medieval Figure Sculpture from North-East Turkey, Journal of the Warburg and 

Courtauld Institutes, vol. XXXI, London, 1968. 

Беридзе, В., Архитектура Тао-Кларджети, Тбилиси, 1981. 

Закарая, П., Зодчество Тао-Кларджети, Тбилиси, 1992. 

Такайшвили, Е., Археологическая экспедиция 1917-го года в южные провинции Грузии, Тбилиси, 1952.

taZari, das. mklavis samxr. fasadi, angelozi 

Temple, south facade of westarm, angel

qarTuli nivTieri kulturis Zeglebi sazRvargareT 

M o n u m e n t s o f G e o r g i a n M a t e r i a l C u l t u r e A b r o a d 

1 

X saukunis xuroTmoZRvruli Zegli 

1 0 t h C E N T U R Y A R C H I T E C T U R A L M O N U M E N T

booklet-textpgeorgian Axali.indd

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