Ishkani or Ishkhan, (Armenian: Իշխան, prince, Georgian: იშხანი, Turkish: Işhan) is a ruined Christian monastery in the territory of Turkey in the village of İşhan, Artvin province. The name Ishkhani derives from the word “Իշխան” (Ishkhan) which means “prince” in the Armenian language. It was one of the important spiritual centers in the Middle Ages Tayk/Tao-Klarjeti. Only the magnificent church and the adjacent chapel have survived. The earliest mention of the monastery is found in The Life of Grigol Khandzteli, a Georgian manuscript dating from the year 951, which is now kept in Jerusalem.
In this manuscript it is stated that Saba, the nephew and follower of the priest Gregory of Khandzta,[1] founded a monastery on the site of an earlier church. The first church built by catholicos Nerses III (641-661), who was native from the village of Ishkhan, and is also known as Nerses III Ishkhanetsi,[2][3][4] had a tetraconch plan (a central dome with four apses radiating to the cardinal points) and was presumably damaged during the Arab invasions of the 7th century. Five Georgian inscriptions within the church and on the southern facade indicate different restoration periods, from 917 until 1032. From the 12th to the end of the 14th century, large vestibules were added to the south, west and north facades. The monastery used to be one of the five patriarchates of Tao-Klarjeti and its church functioned as a cathedral until the 17th century. It was used as the headquarters for the Ottoman officers during the Russo-Turkish War in the 19th century, while its west arm was converted into a mosque and remained so until 1983. In 1987, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Turkey) registered İshkhhan as a national cultural monument and the site is now protected. In 2013, the Monastery was being renovated.[5]
^Gregory of Khandzta
^The Armenian History attributed to Sebeos, translated, with Notes, by R. W. Thomson, historical Commentary by J. Howard-Johnston, Assistance from T. Greenwood (Translated Texts for Historians), Vol 2, Liverpool 1999, p. 140
territory of Turkey in the village of İşhan, Artvin province. The name Ishkhani derives from the word “Իշխան” (Ishkhan) which means “prince” in the Armenian...
monastery church at Khandzta and helped build the monasteries of Shatberdi and Ishkhani. Bagrat I was married to a daughter of the Armenian prince Smbat VIII Bagratuni...
Barakoni Doliskana inscriptions in Asomtavruli Asomtavruli inscription at Ishkhani Asomtavruli inscription at Nikortsminda Cathedral Nuskhuri of 8th to 10th...
curopalates in 954. Sumbat is commemorated in the church inscriptions from Ishkhani and Doliskana in what is now Artvin Province, Turkey. Toumanoff, Cyril...
Gurgen გურგენი An inscription of "Gurgen, King of Kings" at the Ishkhani church dated to 1006. King of Kings of the Iberians (more...) Reign 994-1008 Predecessor...
trout (Salmo ischchan), an endemic fish species of Lake Sevan, Armenia Ishkhani, a monastery in Artvin Province, Turkey This disambiguation page lists...
into a mosque Doliskana (Dolishane/Hamamlıköy) converted into a mosque Ishkhani (İşhan) protected (since 1987) Parkhali (Barhal/Altıparmak) protected Otkhta...
According to The Georgian Chronicles Queen Dinar, along with her son Ishkhani converted Hereti to the Eastern Orthodox confession and abandoned the Oriental...
sources. Bagrat was survived by a son, Adarnase. A church inscription from Ishkhani (now in Turkey) calls Bagrat "magistros and king". Toumanoff, Cyril (1967)...
According to The Georgian Chronicles Queen Dinar, along with her son Ishkhani converted Hereti to the Eastern Orthodox confession and abandoned the Oriental...
The Ottoman sources refer to the region as Haho Gorge, and sometimes as Ishkhani. The Spiritual Treasure of Georgia. Khelovneba Publishers, Tbilisi: 2005...
Turkey. Otkhta is one of the large cathedrals in Tao-Klarjeti, with Oshki, Ishkhani and khakhuli, and one version that is why it is called Otkhta, which means...
bishops of Ishkhani and Atskuri, in the ecclesiastic hierarchy of the Principality of Samtskhe and as the 11th, between the bishops of Ishkhani and Tbeti...
(Penek) ruins Tbeti Monastery (Cevizli) ruins Ani Georgian Church ruins Ishkhani (İşhan) protected Parkhali (Barhal/Altıparmak) converted into a mosque...
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