The Monastery of Panagia Theoskepastos

FORMAL ANALYSIS

The Panagia Theoskepastos Monastery (Παναγία Θεοσκέπαστος, the God-guarded»), today known in Turkish Kızlar Monastery, is a former female  monastery built during the Empire of Trebizond.

It lies at the foot of Boztepe mountain over-looking the city of Trabzon. The monastery complex built on two terraces, is surrounded by a protective  high wall. The monastery was founded in the reign of Alexios III (1349–1390). Having undergone major repairs several times it assumed its present  form in the 19th century. The monastery initially comprised the rock church on the south side the chapel in its entrance and a few cells as well as a  library, small basilica and bell tower. Inside the rock church there are inscriptions and portraits of Alexios III, his wife Theodora and his mother  Irene. Panagia Theoskepastos had been under the restoration plan of Turkish Ministry of Culture, therefore, it is open to the visitors in 2022. During  the restorations, several AR performances are placed in the monastic complex in order to present the monastic life to the visitors.

The cave in the hillside of the monastery was probably once associated with the cult of Mithras. Afterwards the cave may have been a church before it  was incorporated into the Theoskepastos monastery, which was probably founded, refounded, or endowed in the 1340s by Eirene (mother of Grand  Komnenos Alexios III of the Trebizond empire). The monastery held extensive properties and was the only known convent in the pocket Byzantine  empire of Trebizond. The monastery housed the tombs of Andronikos (d. 1376) son of Alexios III, of Grand Komnenos Manuel III (d. 1417) and of  Grand Komnenos Alexios IV (d. 1429) before the latter’s remains were transferred to outside the Panayia Chrysokephalos Church. During the local  wars in 1758–9 between the Derebeys (valley lords) and the Pasha of Trabzon, the central and lower walled cities, the St Eugenios Church and the  walled Theoskepastos monastery were used as Derebey strongholds against the Pasha and his Janissary garrison in the upper citadel Building continued  in the Theoskepastos throughout the second half of the 19th century. A large range was added (probably after 1889) on the north side of the  courtyard. A belfry was erected beside the hall. To the northeast of the cave church a small chapel was built. The western end of the chapel abuts the  side of the cave church. The chapel’s drum and dome have been destroyed. The St Constantine church was also built in the southeast corner of the  compound by Trabzon’s Greek Metropolitan Constantinos (reign 1830–79). In 1916, the Russian officer, Sergei Mintslov, observed that in the cave  church an icon-portrait of Alexios Komnenos and his wife could still be seen. He also noted that the nun’s cells seem to hang over the cliff.