Martqopi
Martqopi is monastery in the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia to the north east of Tbilisi. As with several other ancient monasteries, the village named Martqopi is now some kilometres distant from the monastery of that name as the monastery and accompanying settlement have divided over time and the monastery is known as <em>Gvtaeba</em>. The site is named for St. Anton Martqopeli, believed to have been one of the Thirteen (As)Syrian Fathers and who is believed to have brought the Holy Tile of Edessa (the <em>Keramidion</em>) to Georgia. Although the <em>Keramidion </em>is believed to be a miraculous imprint made on a tile by the <em>Mandylion</em>, the miraculous cloth that Christ left an imprint of his face on and therefore a secondary icon after the <em>Mandylion</em>, in Georgia this story has become confused and St. Anton is now often said to have brought the <em>Mandylion</em> itself to Georgia. The saint is often referred to as a 'Stylite' as he repudedly lived alone in a tower above the main monastery for some years. This building is now closed to visitors but is referred to interchageably as a '<em>koshki</em>' (tower) or '<em>sveti</em>' (pillar or column). As at Ubisa this dwelling resembles a tower house rather than the Syrian-style column found at Qal'at Seman and Semandağ. There is also a modern tomb at this site reorted to be that of St. Anton, replicating the situation across a number of sites associated with the Thirteen (As)Syrian Fathers where relatively recent shrines have been constructed.
Emma Loosley
2016-07-27
Emma Loosley
Metadata and all media released under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA International licence unless otherwise indicated
Architecture
Anchiskhati
Anchiskhati is a C6th basilica in Tbilisi that was named after the miraculous icon housed within it. This icon is now in the Art Museum in Tbilisi and is a C6th representation of the Mandylion. The basilica has been altered since the C6th, notably by raising the height of the building, and has a bell tower dated 1675.
Emma Loosley
2013-05-25
Emma Loosley
Metadata and all media released under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA International licence unless otherwise indicated
Architecture