On the south side of the mountains between Trabzon and Erzurum are numerous valleys that were part of the medieval kingdom of Georgia for a period, during which many spectacular churches, cathedrals, and castles were built. This large church in the villagae of Ishan (İşhan, pronounced roughly like "Eesh-han" would be in English), was the first I visited in the area. Like many in the region, it has not been maintained for very many years. This one was built in the 800s and expanded in the 1000s.