Stepane Mtbevari (Georgian: სტეფანე მტბევარი) was a 10th-century hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, religious writer and calligrapher. Mtbevari, "of T'beti", is the title indicating his holding of the diocese of T'beti, centered on the eponymous monastery in Shavsheti (now in eastern Turkey).[1] He is praised by the contemporary hagiographer Giorgi Merchule as a writer in The Life of Grigol of Khandzta, but beyond a translation of a commentary to the Psalms, the Passion of Gobron is his only—and best known—extant work.[2]
The Passion of Gobron is a piece of original hagiography, commissioned from the author by the Georgian Bagratid prince Ashot Kukhi (died 918)[2] and relating heroic defense of the fort of Q'ueli by Christian Georgian noble Gobron and his eventual death as a martyr at the hands of the Muslim emir Yusuf Ibn Abi'l-Saj (Abu l'Kasim) in 914.[2] "The Holy Father Stepane Mtbevari" and his work are also mentioned by the 11th-century anonymous Chronicle of Kartli, part of the Georgian Chronicles, while the 11th-century historian Sumbat reports Stepane's installment by Ashot Kukhi as the first bishop of T'beti.[3][1]
The Passion of Gobron opens with edifying quotations from the Book of Job and Saint Paul. It then continues, condemning the Armenians for their "heresy", a reference to Armenia's rejection of the Council of Chalcedon.[2][4] While describing the Muslim invasion and Gobron's defense of Q'ueli, Stepane shows a talent for epic storytelling.[2]
^ abAntony Eastmond (1998), Royal Imagery in Medieval Georgia, p. 221. Penn State Press, ISBN 0-271-01628-0.
^ abcdeRayfield, Donald (2000), The Literature of Georgia: A History, pp. 48-9. Routledge, ISBN 0-7007-1163-5.
^Rapp, Stephen H. (2003), Studies in Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts, p. 359. Peeters Publishers, ISBN 90-429-1318-5
^(in French) Martin-Hisard, Bernadette (1992), "Une hagiographie géorgienne anti-arménienne du début du Xe siècle". Revue des Études Arméniennes23: 209-235.
Rayfield, Donald (2000), The Literature of Georgia: A History, pp. 48-9. Routledge, ISBN 0-7007-1163-5. Rapp, Stephen H. (2003), Studies in Medieval Georgian...
calligraphy was rich of decor and ornaments. His works had the miniature images ofStephenofTbeti and Basil of Caesarea. He is considered as one of the most brilliant...
described by a contemporary Georgian hagiographer StephenofTbeti in his best-known work Passion of Gobron. Before beginning their destructive campaign...
The following is an incomplete list of masters of Georgian calligraphy: List of Ottoman calligraphers List of Persian calligraphers ამონა ვახტანგ მოძარღულისძე...
dating back to the early origins of Christianity in Asia Minor during the 1st century AD. In modern times the percentage of Christians in Turkey has declined...
Barlaam destroyed the statue of Zeus and formed a community of Christian monks. In the early 6th century on the ruins of the ancient temple was built...
сторонам каждой конхи;… (Encyclopaedia of art) Levan Menabde, Centres of ancient Georgian culture, 1968. Rapp, Stephen H. (2012). Caucasia and the second...
Materials of Nikolai Okunev’s Expedition of 1917 on the Wall Paintings of Parkhali. Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art: Collection of articles...
pronunciation: [χandztʰa]) was a medieval Georgian monastery founded by Gregory of Khandzta in 782 AD. It has been identified as probably being the ruined monastery...
medieval Georgian monastery and cathedral church of the Bishopric of Ancha, located near what is now the village of Anaçlı, Artvin Province, Turkey. Purportedly...
cathedral church located in Dörtkilise, the town of Yusufeli, Artvin Province, Turkey. Otkhta is one of the large cathedrals in Tao-Klarjeti, with Oshki...
in 1873 Rapp, Jr. Stephen H. (January 19, 2012). "CAUCASIA AND THE SECOND BYZANTINE COMMONWEALTH: BYZANTINIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL COHERENCE"...
(From the Sources of Classical Armenian Architecture) (in Armenian). Yerevan: Mughni Publishing. p. 185. ISBN 99941-33-03-9. Rapp, Stephen H. (2003), Studies...
of Sumbat I of Iberia. It is located high above the right bank of the Imerkhevi River. Doliskana, as a settlement, also predated the construction of the...
Medieval Georgian Kingdom of Klarjeti (modern-day Artvin Province of Turkey). The monastery is an illustration of the activity of St. Gregory's followers...
February 13, 2013. Kartlis Tskhovreba. The Hundred Years’ Chronicle, Stephen Jones (ed.), Tbilisi, Artanuji Publishing, 2014. p. 378. Wikimedia Commons...
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