Church of Urta (Region of Artaani)
Church of Urta (Georg. ურთას ეკლესია, Tur. gölbelen kilisesi) – Three-nave basilica located in the Georgian historical region – Artaani (Georg. არტაანი, tur. Ardahan), west of Lake Chrdili (Childir) (Georg. ჩრდილი), in the village of Urta (Georg. ურთა),now Gölbelen, Turkey. Built in the 7th century, the temple is rectangular in plan. There is another opinion that the temple was built in the second half of the 10th century. In general, the Church of Urta has not been studied archaeologically.
Hewn stone was used for construction and paving. Six massive columns divide the church into three parts. The middle part is relatively high. Initially, the entrance to the church was from the south, later it was made from the west. The letter “C” is carved into the north wall. In the 16th century, the Turks turned the church into a fortress and used it as a defensive structure. Later it was turned into a mosque. In 1992, a minaret was added to the building.
Comments