UNKNOWN INSCRIPTIONS OF THE CHURCH OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN KLDEISI

Abstract

The Church of the Mother of God of Kldeisi located in the historical area of ​​Kvemo Kartli is one of the excellent examples of Georgian architecture. In 2019-2021, the ruined church was restored with the financial support of the "Kartu" Foundation and under the organization of the National Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Georgia, according with unknown lapidary inscriptions were discovered. The unknown inscriptions of Kldeisi enrich our knowledge not only in terms of the Church of the Mother of God in Kldeisi, but also provide us with the most valuable information about the Liparit V Baguashi's (Eristavt Eristavi of Trialeti) construction activities in the late 80s and first half of the 90s of the 11th century, during the reign of David IV the builder (1089-1125), the king of united Georgia. The inscriptions provide unknown episodes about his battle against the Seljuk Turks and his possession of the title of King of Aran. In Georgian epigraphy, one of the still unknown inscriptions of the Church of the Mother of God of Kldeisi (AD.1092-1094/1095 the inscription of Liparit V Baguashi Eristavt Eristavi of Trialeti and King of Aran,) has so far been presented as the only written monument where the term "Turks" is mentioned. This is another unknown passage in the military-political relations between Georgia and the Seljuk Empire.

Keywords: Epigraphy; Inscription; Kvemo Kartli; Liparit V Baghvashi; King of Rani; „Seljuk“;