THE GEORGIAN CHURCH OF THE WOOD OF LIFE IN THE BLACK MOUNTAINS (ANTIOCH): THE MONASTERY IN THE WORKS OF WACHTANG DJOBADZE AND MODERN CONDITION

ALEKSANDRE BOSHISHVILI

ALEKSANDRE BOSHISHVILI PhD in History, Senior Researcher, Kornelis Kekelidze Georgian National Centre of Manuscripts Zaza Aleksidze Street, No. 2, Tbilisi, 1093, Georgia; Assistant Professor, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue, No. 1, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia, http://orcid.org/0009-0003-1297-8671

Abstract

Wachtang Djobadze (1917-2007) was a Georgian scholar, art historian, and archaeologist. He was a professor at California State University, Los Angeles in the United States and the head of the Department of Archaeology and Art History. Wachtang Djobadze spent years researching antiquities related to Georgia abroad. He organised a number of expeditions in the Republic of Turkey, namely in the historical Tao-Klarjeti region, as well as in Antioch, Cyprus, and elsewhere. Wachtang Djobadze devoted a large part of his academic research to the study of Antioch.

Wachtang Djobadze, based on the colophons of manuscripts, wills and inscriptions, managed to accurately localise the Church of “Dzeli Tskhorebisa” (Wood of Life). He conducted an archaeological survey on the monument in 1962, 1963, and 1964. Based on the obtained materials, Wachtang Djobadze has described in detail in his monograph the issues of architecture and construction of the Church of Wood of Life. Art, ornaments and other details. The book provides reconstructions. Wachtang Djobadze believed that the Church was built by masters particularly invited from Georgia. He saw great similarities in the architecture and decoration of the Wood of Life (“Dzeli Tskhorebisa”) and Samtavisi Churches. He also studied the samples of Georgian inscriptions found in the Wood of Life.

Part of the materials discovered during Wachtang Djobadze's expeditions is naturally preserved in place. While some were used for the construction of the walls of another church constructed in a later period. Part of the antiquities are preserved in the funds of the Hatay Museum, which is located in the city of Antakya. The museum is currently closed and rehabilitation works are underway.

The remains of the Wood of Life Monastery are still in the same condition as they were left after the expedition of Wachtang Djobadze in the 1960s. In the following years, no further work was carried out on the monument. During this time, the entire territory of the monastery has been completely covered with trees and plants. But since it is near to the road leading from the village of Yoğunoluk to Eriklikuyu, it is not difficult to get there.

Keywords: Georgia, Wachtang Djobadze, Antioch, Wood of Life Monastery