Ikorta church
Encyclopedia
The Ikort’a church of the Archangel
, commonly known as Ikort’a (იკორთა), is a 12th-century Georgian Orthodox church located at the outskirts of the village Ikort’a in Shida Kartli
region
of eastern Georgia
.
Commissioned by the ducal family of Ksani in the reign of King George III of Georgia
in 1172, Ikort’a is the earliest in a series of the 12th-13th-century churches of Georgia that set a final canonical model of a Georgian domed church.
The Ikort’a church is a centrally planned, dome
d rectangular design, with a semicircular apse
on the east. The dome, with 12 windows pierced round its tall base, rests upon the corners of the altar
and two hexangular pillars. Walls and vaults were plastered and frescoed at the time of construction; but only some fragments of original murals survived in the apse, northern wall and the base of the dome. The façades and a lower portion of the dome are lavishly ornamented. The church was renovated in the 17th century, but the original design was largely preserved. There are two entrance portals, one to the south and one to the west. Original porches have been ruined, and the extant porch to the south is of much later period. There are a solar clock and an ancient Georgian asomtavruli inscription on the western wall.
During the earthquake of 1991, a large portion of the dome collapsed, and inflicted a significant damage on the church. In 1999 the monument was listed among the "100 Most Endangered Sites" (World Monuments Fund
, 2000-2001). A reconstruction project is currently under progress.
The Ikort’a church served as a burial ground of the dukes of Ksani, and houses, among others, the tombs of the brothers Shalva and Elizbar of Ksani, and their associate Bidzina, Prince Cholokashvili
. These noblemen were tortured to death for having revolted against the Persian domination of Kakheti
(eastern Georgia) in 1659, and were eventually canonized by the Georgian Orthodox church.
Archangel
An archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...
, commonly known as Ikort’a (იკორთა), is a 12th-century Georgian Orthodox church located at the outskirts of the village Ikort’a in Shida Kartli
Shida Kartli
Shida Kartli is a region in Georgia. It consists of the following districts: Gori, Kaspi, Kareli, Java, Khashuri.The northern part of the region, namely Java, and northern territories of Kareli and Gori, is controlled by the authorities of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia since...
region
Mkhare
Mkhare is a subdivision in the country of Georgia. It is usually translated as region.The country is divided, according to the Presidential decrees from 1994 to 1996, into regions on a provisional basis until the secessionist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are resolved...
of eastern Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
.
Commissioned by the ducal family of Ksani in the reign of King George III of Georgia
George III of Georgia
Giorgi III , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was king of Georgia from 1156 to 1184. His reign, and that of Tamar, are seen as the 'golden age' of Georgian history, the era of empire, diplomatic success, military triumphs, great learning, cultural, spiritual, and artistic flowering.-Life:He succeeded on...
in 1172, Ikort’a is the earliest in a series of the 12th-13th-century churches of Georgia that set a final canonical model of a Georgian domed church.
The Ikort’a church is a centrally planned, dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
d rectangular design, with a semicircular apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
on the east. The dome, with 12 windows pierced round its tall base, rests upon the corners of the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
and two hexangular pillars. Walls and vaults were plastered and frescoed at the time of construction; but only some fragments of original murals survived in the apse, northern wall and the base of the dome. The façades and a lower portion of the dome are lavishly ornamented. The church was renovated in the 17th century, but the original design was largely preserved. There are two entrance portals, one to the south and one to the west. Original porches have been ruined, and the extant porch to the south is of much later period. There are a solar clock and an ancient Georgian asomtavruli inscription on the western wall.
During the earthquake of 1991, a large portion of the dome collapsed, and inflicted a significant damage on the church. In 1999 the monument was listed among the "100 Most Endangered Sites" (World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund is a private, international, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training....
, 2000-2001). A reconstruction project is currently under progress.
The Ikort’a church served as a burial ground of the dukes of Ksani, and houses, among others, the tombs of the brothers Shalva and Elizbar of Ksani, and their associate Bidzina, Prince Cholokashvili
Cholokashvili
Cholokashvili is a former noble family in Georgia. It claimed an exotic foreign lineage and first appeared in the eastern Georgian province, and later kingdom, of Kakheti in 1320...
. These noblemen were tortured to death for having revolted against the Persian domination of Kakheti
Kakheti
Kakheti is a historical province in Eastern Georgia inhabited by Kakhetians who speak a local dialect of Georgian. It is bordered by the small mountainous province of Tusheti and the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, Russian Federation to the Northeast, Azerbaijan to the Southeast, and...
(eastern Georgia) in 1659, and were eventually canonized by the Georgian Orthodox church.