Opiza

Church ruins in Artvin

Opiza

Religion
Affiliation| Georgian Orthodox Church[citation needed]
Location
Location|  Turkey

Shown within Turkey

Geographic coordinates| 41°15′07″N 41°59′24″E﻿ / ﻿41.251944°N 41.99°E﻿ / 41.251944; 41.99
Architecture
Completed| 13th century

Opiza (Georgian: ოპიზა) was a medieval Georgian monastery and cathedral church located in historical Klarjeti region, now in Artvin Province, Turkey. It is one of the oldest Georgian churches in the Tao-Klarjeti region.[1] Opiza was reconstructed after an Arab invasion in the 8th century. It is referred to by many Georgian historical persons, such as Gregory of Khandzta, Beqa and Beshqen Opizrebi.

## Architecture

[edit]

The main church of the monastery is a domed cruciform design with an unusually elongated plan along the east-west axis. The dome rests on squinches built into the walls. To the east is a rectangular apse and sacristy. The western arm forms an undivided, elongated nave. The interior walls and dome are faced with dressed stone masonry. While the dome rests primarily on pendentives, small trompes are also incorporated, creating a hybrid transitional style of support.[2]

The longitudinal walls of the western nave are articulated by a three-tiered arcade of columns and buttresses. A distinctive feature is the 12-sided drum of the dome, restored in the first half of the 10th century. Each of the 12 faces has a rafter protruding outward, so the cornice appears scalloped rather than horizontal, giving the roof the appearance of a partially opened umbrella. Decorative blind arches on paired shafts at the dome's base indicate growing interest in architectural ornament. The dressed masonry extends to the exterior facades as well.

Other remains at the monastic complex include a large three-aisled building that may have been the refectory, documented by the architect A. Pavlinov in 1888 when the site was already abandoned and damaged. A 9th-century carved relief portrait of Ashot Kurapalat is preserved at the Art Museum of Georgia in Tbilisi.

## Gallery

[edit]

* Opiza, photo. i. Barshchevsky, 1888

* Opiza, photo. i. Barshchevsky, 1888

* Opiza, photo. i. Barshchevsky, 1888

* Opiza, photo. i. Barshchevsky, 1888

* Opiza, photo. i. Barshchevsky, 1888

* The original drawing was made by Colonel Giorgi Kazbegi during his reconnaissance journey to Ottoman Georgia in 1873

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rapp, Jr. Stephen H. (January 19, 2012). "CAUCASIA AND THE SECOND BYZANTINE COMMONWEALTH: BYZANTINIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL COHERENCE" (PDF). National Council for Eurasian and East European Research. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
2. ^ Kadiroğlu, Mine (2003), "Tao-Klarjeti", Oxford Art Online, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t083302, ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4, retrieved 2024-04-24

* v
* t
* e

Georgian cathedrals, monasteries and churches in Turkey

* Ancha
* Bana (Penek)
* Doliskana (Dolişhane/Hamamlıköy)
* Ishkhani (İşhan)
* Khakhuli (Haho/Bağbaşi)
* Oshki (Öşk Vank/Çamlıyamaç)
* Parekhi
* Khandzta
* Opiza (Bağcılar)
* Berta monastery
* Shatberdi
* Baretelta
* Otkhta Eklesia (Dörtkilise)
* Parkhali (Barhal/Altıparmak)
* Tbeti Monastery (Cevizli)
* Jmerki
* Mere
* St. Barlaam Monastery (Barlaham Manastırı)

* Turkey portal
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Historical Georgian monasteries and churches

Georgia|

Abkhazia

* Aba-Ata
* Ambara
* Akhali Atoni (Simeon)
* Akhali Atoni Monastery
* Bedia
* Bichvinta
* Bzyb
* Chkhortoli
* Chlou
* Chuburkhinji
* Dranda
* Gagra
* Gantiadi
* Ghumurishi
* Ilori
* Iveria
* Khopi
* Kvitouli
* Lashkendari
* Lidzava
* Likhni
* Marmariskari
* Megobroba
* Mokvi
* Mtiskalta
* Mugudzirkhva
* Nabakevi
* Nakhshiri
* Odishi (Constantine, Mary)
* Otkhara
* Pichori
* Pitchu-Okhvame
* Sakeni
* Tsebelda (Andrew, Catherine, George, Theodore)

Adjara

* Kvirike
* Skhalta

Guria

* Achi
* Erketi
* Jumati
* Likhauri
* Shemokmedi

Imereti

* Bagrati
* Bajiti
* Chala
* Chikha
* Darkveti
* Derchi
* Devadze
* Ekhvevi
* Gelati
* Jruchi
* Katskhi
* Katskhis Sveti
* Kisoreti
* Koreti
* Mghvimevi
* Motsameta
* Savane
* Speti
* Tabakini
* Ubisi
* Zarati
* Zemo Simoneti

Kakheti

* Akhmeta
* Akura
* Alaverdi
* Argokhi
* Bochorma
* Bodbe
* Chabukauri
* Cheremi
* Dartlo
* David Gareja
* David Gareja Lavra
* Dodo
* Dolochopi
* Dzveli Diklo
* Dzveli Gavazi
* Gremi
* Ikalto (Monastery, Stephen)
* Intsoba
* Kardanakhi
* Khashmi (Mary, Trinity)
* Khirsa
* Kochalo
* Kvelatsminda
* Kvetera
* Machi
* Manavi
* Matani
* Matni
* Natlismtsemeli
* Nekresi
* Ninotsminda
* Ozaani
* Ruispiri
* Sabatsminda
* Sanagire
* Sagarejo
* Shildi
* Shuamta (New)
* Shuamta (Old)
* Vachnadziani
* Vartsani
* Vazisubani (Assumption, Davitiani)
* Zegaani
* Zemo Alvani
* Zemo Khodashani

Kvemo Kartli

* Abelia
* Akaurti
* Akhalsheni
* Akvanebi
* Ayazmi
* Bolnisi Sioni
* Chatakhi
* Chochiani
* Dashbashi
* Dmanisi Sioni
* Draneti
* Ganakhlebi
* Ghobani
* Gomareti (Mary, Nicholas)
* Gudarekhi
* Kakliani
* Kazreti
* Kolagiri
* Kukhi
* Kushchi
* Liparitisubani
* Mamkhuti (Lower, Upper)
* Manglisi
* Martqopi
* Pirghebuli
* Pitareti
* Revazasheni
* Sakdrioni
* Samghereti
* Samshvilde Sioni
* Sarkineti (Ascension, Basil)
* Satkhi
* Shavnabada
* Sikhuaant
* Sori
* Tandzia
* Tejisi
* Tserakvi
* Tsalka
* Tskhnari
* Tsughrughasheni
* Ukangori
* Vanati
* Vardisubani
* Zemo Karabulaghi

Mtskheta-Mtianeti

* Akhatna
* Alevi
* Ananuri
* Antioki
* Archili
* Bochorma
* Davati
* Garbani
* Gergeti
* Jvari
* Kabeni
* Khevi Sioni
* Korogho
* Ksani
* Lomisa
* Machkhani
* Mtetsveri
* Nedzikhi
* Samtavro
* Shio-Mgvime
* Svetitskhoveli
* Telovani
* Tserovni
* Tsilkani
* Zedazeni
* Zhameti

Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti

* Barakoni
* Bugeuli
* Chikhareshi
* Chukuli
* Kldisubani
* Mami
* Mravaldzali
* Nakuraleshi
* Nikortsminda
* Raketi
* Sasashi
* Tvibi
* Zemo Krikhi

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti

* Adishi (Archangel, George, George, Saviour)
* Agara
* Atsquri
* Baraleti
* Bieti
* Chvibiani
* Ienashi
* Iprari
* Khobi
* Khvilisha
* Lagurka
* Lashtkhveri
* Matskhvarishi
* Mestia
* Martvili
* Murqmeli
* Nakipari
* Otsindale
* Sepieti
* Svipi
* Taringzel
* Tavrali
* Tsaishi
* Tsalenjikha
* Tsvirmi (Archangel, George, Saviour)
* Ushguli
* Zhamushi

Samtskhe–Javakheti

* Abuli
* Akhalsheni
* Alandzia
* Alastani
* Arjevan-Sarvani
* Azureti
* Bavri
* Bezhano
* Burnasheti
* Chikhorisi
* Chulevi
* Daba
* Damala
* Didi Ateni
* Didi Samsari
* Gandzani (Church, Church, Church, Temple, Ekvderiani, John)
* Gaveti
* Gorguli
* Jakismani
* Karneti
* Karzameti
* Kavtaroghli
* Khorenia
* Khospio
* Kizildere
* Kochio
* Koshkigheli
* Kvabiskhevi
* Kvarshi
* Likani
* Mchadijvari
* Mtsvane
* Naisa
* Nedzvi
* Poki
* Potoleti
* Saghamos (Church, Church)
* Sapara
* Saro
* Shavnabada
* Shoreti
* Sirgva
* Skhaltbi
* Tabatskuri
* Tadzrisi
* Tavparavani
* Timotesubani
* Tiseli
* Tmogvi
* Tontio
* Tori
* Tsunda
* Vale
* Vanis Kvabebi
* Vardzia
* Zarzma
* Zeda Vardzia
* Zeda Tmogvi
* Zveli

Shida Kartli

* Aghaiani
* Ali
* Aradeti
* Ateni Sioni
* Bieti
* Bobnevi
* Breti (George, Piros)
* Chandrebi
* Eredvi
* Ertatsminda
* Gigo
* Idleti
* Ikorta
* Ikvi
* Inauri
* Kaberi
* Kavti
* Kheiti
* Khopa
* Khoveli
* Khtsisi
* Kintsvisi
* Koshkebi
* Kumurdo
* Kvakhvreli
* Kvatakhevi
* Largvisi
* Lavriskhevi
* Magalaant
* Mesveti
* Metekhi
* Nabakhtevi
* Niabi
* Noste
* Pavnisi
* Rkoni
* Ruisi
* Samtavisi
* Samtsevrisi
* Saorbisi
* Tavkavta
* Tigva
* Tiri
* Tsirkoli
* Tskhinvali
* Tsromi
* Urbnisi
* Urtkhva
* Usaneti
* Vaka
* Vere
* Zemo Nikozi (Archangel, Deity)

Tbilisi

* Anchiskhati
* Betania
* Betlehemi
* Kldisubani
* Lurji
* Metekhi
* Narikala
* Tbilisi Sioni

Armenia|

* List of churches

Azerbaijan|

* List of churches

Bulgaria|

* Petritsoni

Cyprus|

* Gialia

Greece|

* Iviron

Israel|

* Monastery of the Cross

North Caucasus|

* Alby-Yerdy
* Datuna Church
* Tkhaba-Yerdy

Turkey|

* List of churches

This article about a church building or other Christian place of worship in Turkey is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template