Kizil Kilise
| Kızıl Kilise Red Church | |
|---|---|
Greek Orthodox | |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Abandoned |
| Years built | 6th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red volcanic stone |
Kızıl Kilise, the Red Church, also known as Sivrihisar Kızıl Kilise, is a partially ruined sixth-century church in the Güzelyurt district of Aksaray Province, Turkey. The church takes its name from the red stone used to build it.[1] The building has been listed in the World Monuments Watch since 2008.[2]
Background
Probably erected in the sixth century during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565), the edifice is one of the oldest Christian shrines of the Cappadocia region[3][4] and one of the oldest churches known to have a cupola on a drum with windows that illuminate the interior.[5] The church was possibly dedicated to Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the fathers of the Cappadocian church.[5] The natives called it also as Saint Panteleimon Monastery (Μοναστήριον του Αγίου Παντελεήμονος).[6][7] which conflicts with existing claims of its name being Saint Spyridon.[8]
In central and eastern Cappadocia, 5th and 6th-century churches with cross-shaped plans were standard.
Gertrude Bell (1868–1926), the British archaeologist and writer, photographed and measured Kızıl Kilise in 1907.[11]
Kızıl Kilise was operational until the 1st of August 1924 by the Turkish-speaking Christians of Sivrihisar village, before they migrated to Greece with the Population Exchange.[7]
Reconstruction activities
In 2011 a program of reconstruction work began at the church.[4] International fundraising raised €500,000 to finance the work. İsmet Ağaryılmaz, a retired professor who previously taught restoration techniques at Yıldız Technical University, directed the project.[1][4]
Gallery
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Kızıl Kilise in Güzelyurt, Aksaray before restoration -
The Red Church in Cappadocia, Turkey in April 2017 following restoration in 2011. -
Kızıl Kilise in 2010. -
Inside the church.
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References
- ^ a b "French group vows to save Cappadocia's historic 'Red Church'". Today's Zaman. 2007-05-25. Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
- ^ "Projets de sauvegarde" (in French). Association des Amis de la Cappadoce. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
- ^ a b "Red Church". World Monuments Fund. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
- ^ a b c d "Centuries-old church rescued in Cappadocia". Hürriyet Daily News. 2012-06-10. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
- ^ a b c d e Les Amis de Cappadoce. "Kızıl Kilise - The Red Church". www.wmf.org. World Monuments Fund. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ Ν. Κ. Μουτσόπουλος, Η Κόκκινη Εκκλησία (Kizil Kilise) κοντά στο Sivri Hisar της Καππαδοκίας. Παρατηρήσεις και προβληματισμοί, ΕΜΣ, Θεσσαλονίκη 2007, σελ. 26.
- ^ a b Κιτρομηλιδης, Πασχαλης Μ. (1982). Μουρελος, Γιαννης (ed.). Η Έξοδος. Τόμος Β'. Μαρτυρίες από τις επαρχίες της νότιας και κεντρικής Μικρασίας (in Greek). Athens, Greece: Κέντρο Μικρασιατικών Σπουδών. pp. 19–21.
- ^ "GÜZELYURT'TA (GELVERİ! BULUNAN BizANS/POST-BİZANs DÖNEMi KİLiSELERİ 1".
- ^ R. Krautheimer, "Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture", 1986, p164.
- ^ "Cappadocia loving French association to save Red Church". Hürriyet Daily News. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
- ^ "In the footsteps of Gertrude Bell". Today's Zaman. 2014-04-28. Archived from the original on 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
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