Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Black Sea Region at the Crossroads of Civilizations, Batumi, Gürcistan, 5 - 06 Temmuz 2022, ss.1-8
The microtoponym of the village Otkhta
The village of Otkhta is located on the river. On the left bank of Chorokhi. 700 meters above
sea level, 112 km from Artvin and 10 km from Yusufeli. This place belongs to Turkey yada
this place is completely in Turkey today. The village has a total of 200 households. Nearby is
the famous Church of the Four, which enchants every visitor with its architectural features
and mystical energy. After Oshki, Khakhuli and Ishkhani, it was the fourth largest temple;
Such a name was given because. The Church of the Four is a 10th century monument.
Today it is also called Dortkilise in Turkish.
We wrote such a legend in the village: the church was built by the daughter of an unknown
king - someone named silip : Tamar. His father converted all his children to Islam, except
Tamar. Tamar spent all her money on building the temple, so she cut her hair short, sold it,
and thus finished the construction. Tamar had a white horse that she could go around all four
churches in one day. According to the legend, a womans handprint is also preserved in the
temple.
From the church of the village of Otkhta approx. 1.5 km away, on the left –The rocky bank of
Chorokhi that stands Kavkasidze Fortress is approximately 1.5 away from the church
(Turkey.Tekkale). As for the microtoponymy of the Four Churches themselves, both
elsewhere and here, the villagers have, by one principle, named certain mountains, waters,
pastures, or other places according to certain signs.