Parkhali

Parkhali — Georgian monastery in Turkey. The monastery complex is located in the historical Tao, in the Parkhlistsqali gorge of the left tributary of the Chorokhi River, on the eastern slopes of the Lazistan or Pontic Mountains. Currently, a mosque operates in the temple.

The church of Parkhali was built by David III Kurapalat (built a little before 973). During this period, John the Bera, who worked at the Shatberdi Monastery, copied and dedicated the Gospel to Parkhali, which is known in literature as the Parkhali Four (Institute of Manuscripts, A-1453). Of the Parkhali figures, Gabriel Patara (10th-11th centuries), the copyist of the Parkhali Four (Institute of Manuscripts, S 4927) and the Parkhali Many (Institute of Manuscripts, A—95), is particularly notable. The “Martyrdom of Shushanik”, an ancient manuscript from the 10th century, was copied in Parkhali.

The church of the Parkhli Monastery is similar in plan and proportions to the Church of the Four and, together with it, represents an important example of late Georgian basilicas.

The nave of the basilica is high and sharply defined. The carvings of the facades already play a certain role here. The monument is decorated with window capitals, crosses decorated with twisted threads, and relief images of animals. A special feature of the Parkhli church is the longitudinal wall of the nave, which is divided by decorative arches and paired shafts, and is additionally decorated with painted images - maras-like capitals above the windows, crosses, discs, and others. There are numerous inscriptions on the same wall, which mention those who worked to decorate the monument. After the Ottoman conquest (16th century), the basilica was converted into a mosque.

There are two temples located on opposite sides of the temple.