Tokali
Kilise
Among the churches in the rock of Göreme, the
richest in paintings is the church known as Tokali
Kilise. Its name comes from a decoration on one of
its two arches which has since disappeared.
Built probably between the IX and X centuries, its
interior is divided into two distinct areas: the
front part is called the Old Church; whereas the
other area, distinguished by its four columns on the
front and three apsidal recesses, apart from a side
room, is called the New Church. About thirty years
later, the frescoes in the New Church were painted
on the barrel vaults and in the apsidal bowl -shaped
vault by an artist called Nikephoros. The scenes
represent the life of Christ.
Elmali
Kilise
This cave church was built in about 1050 and,
despite Muslims flocking into the area, it reveals
close ties with Byzantine architecture in its
structures and frescoes: Its name probably refers to
an apple tree that grew in the vicinity. The
frescoes that still exist are painted on a coat of
plaster on top of pre- existing geometric designs,
which were recently attributed to the post -
Iconoclastic XI century.
Karanlik
Kilise
The so-called Karanlik Kilise, (Dark Church) was in
fact a real monastic complex. Like other monastic
retreats in Göreme, the Dark Church was also built
during the XI century. Unfortunately, part of its
narthex or vestibule collapsed, leaving it open to
the sky. The wall at the bottom of the narthex bears
a severely damaged fresco with Christ’s Ascension
and the Benediction of the Saints, whereas the other
scenes are only partially legible; more so to the
left, where the wall collapsed. The church’s name is
fully justified: in fact, a small oculus looking out
of the narthex is the only source of light; however,
there was even less light in the past centuries,
when the narthex was not short of a wall. The scenes
depicted in the church represent episodes from the
New Testament.
Sandal Kilise
The Church of the Sandal was also originally a
monastic complex. Its appearance has since changed:
the facade of the rock face has collapsed, exposing
the rooms above the sky. |
Originally, the niches
housed decorations in the shape of the Greek cross. The name of the church
comes from an imprint on the floor said to be a cast
of Jesus’ own footstep. The three benefactors of the
complex are portrayed in the frescoes of the church,
and indicated by the names of Theognotos, Michael
and Leon. The holy paintings narrate 13 episodes
from the Life of Christ.
Barbara
Kilise
One can literally step inside the Church of St.
Barbara. Its plan was similar to the Church of the
Sandal. It was built in the late Eleventh Century
A.D., and financed by benefactors whose names are
recalled in a broken inscription: the priest Falibon
and Leon Marulinus. The simplicity of the building
is enhanced by its paintings which consists mainly
of red lines forming geometric designs. Other linear
painting are accompanied by frescoes painted on top
of a coat of plaster, which are usually figurative:
apart from St Barbara, after whom the church is
named, the apse contains Christ on the Throne,
whereas the north wall portrays St. George and St
Theodore on horse-back struggling against the dragon
and snake.
Yilanli
Kilise
The Yilanli Kilise is surrounded by several rooms in
the rock, including the refectory which is adjacent
to the church, and several others above. The church
itself is a long, narrow room divided into two
different sections. Immediately after the entrance,
the left wall bears a niche. To the right of the
entrance, the upper part of the vault portrays three
saints, including St Thomas and an interesting St
Onofrio in the nude. However local legend has it
that St Onofrio originally belonged to the female
sex, but that God made her into a man to keep her
away from sin.
El Nazar
Kilise
This church which dates back to the XI century, is
hewn out of an isolated tufa pinnacle. Part of the
front collapsed, leaving some of the inside rooms
open to the sky. Above the two floors of rooms stood
the church itself, built in a T-shape with strong
pillars supporting the vaults. The ceiling was
partly barrel vault and partly dome. The precious
paintings are in panels on the vaults, with various
religious scenes and images of saints. This
monastery stands a couple of hundred meters from the
complex of Göreme. |
Cappadocia |
