armenian georgian known armenian meaning 10th century fortified monastery located town kilometers north monastery currently inactive fortress played major role protecting north western regions armenia preserved modern armenia main church compound famous highly artistic cover inside walls building modern recorded royal decree etymology believed origin meaning white original armenian settlement monastery built means copper fortress french archaeologist discovered rectangular stone cultural items clay bronze iron near dating 8th century settlement modern known 5th century fortress certainly built bronze foundations built late tenth century branch originated pronounced local dialect son patrons monasteries located far king iii brothers king kingdom armenia reached peak prosperity iii established strategic reasons brother depicted sculptures patrons kingdom fell result raids migrated maintained ties ancestral fortress compound fortress built elevated rocky surrounded deep sides forming natural protection somewhat accessible parts cliffs reinforced towers walls entrance compound northern protected bell shaped towers walls walls towers fortress built bluish lime mortar gradually lost influence grasp end 12th century monastic life revived heading combined georgian armenian forces liberated armenia 13th century historians called area copper rich copper deposits surroundings writes following brother died year buried near church built taking making georgian monastery property brother armenian accepted georgian court monasteries northern armenia converted greek prominent example monastery enhanced georgian court gained influence inhabited northern began lose control starting disastrous invasions georgia armenia son forced recognize leader rule continued interrupted successive conquests tribes tribe began attacking took control armenia proper rule interrupted conquests cliffs surrounds known named according local tradition buried wives cliff late 18th century monastery serviced ethnic greeks settled order work gold silver mines roughly greek families moved ottoman_empire greeks called monastery greek miners left inscriptions monastery walls 19th century taken armenian family currently monastery pilgrimage days september greeks visit monastery occasion ambassador greece visited monastery september ore mining processing plant dumping copper pit monastery classified threat local residents holy mother god church main building monastic compound holy mother god church exact date building church unknown generally regarded century complex current church built earlier foundation mentions buried church refers church modern researchers date murals church princess daughter record found place called adjacent refers construction god church inscription states following daughter erected honor remember prayers constructed main church according local lore church built 7th century byzantine emperor armenian extraction legend assumes church built 5th century georgian king reasonable evidence support story church contain cross according folklore john baptist jesus christ father prince said given later sold large sum monastery church situated middle fortress territory longitudinal axis belongs type churches join pairs arches divided longitudinal stretched prayer hall central double eastern ends low staged half rounded end characterized stylish theme variety different colors blue dominant vertical axis building crowned massive dome pointed dome cylindrical drum survived damaged invasion completely demolished invaded 19th century prince built semi spherical wooden dome covered iron sheets place original dome dome renovated soviet years murals murals best representations byzantine art outside traditional borders byzantium majority murals bear scriptures greek murals painted patronage parallels drawn murals 11th century armenian miniature paintings coloring murals characteristic typical byzantine art thematic solutions armenian new old scenes saints including depicted murals large image depicted dome holding jesus mural badly damaged parts survived holy virgin communion shown jesus depicted twice turning right left sharing bread images peter john paul matthew survived common christians saints depicted communion scene including son gregory jacob rome gregory murals western wall depict northern wall depicts trial jesus high priest roman murals renovated arches columns covered murals structures prominent structure holy mother god church rectangular attached western wall church remaining section façade main church situated immediately ridge roof son buried inside small structure lean roof attached northern wall main church store ceremonial items north western monastery single nave ridge church located detached main church building hasn survived located numerous dilapidated dwellings auxiliary structures scattered territory fortress story building believed residence guards traditional networks tunnels water wine found monasteries medieval armenia far monastery find medieval monuments holy trinity monastery church 13th century spring monument 19th century russian chapel greek church known residents inscriptions nearby point monastery headed prominent figure resided monastery translator simon diaries survived born clergyman years monastery translating byzantine theological literature collaborated armenian faith simon compiled volume works diary reads completed book preserved old copy translated clergyman simon lived armenia near lore town book translated reign founder monastery god grant sons long life simon translated armenian elements theology ladder divine ascent john history georgia simon noted diaries translated works previously translated armenian prominent armenian filmmaker 20th century filmed episodes film color monastery gallery
Akhtala Monastery