These two photographs are of Dere Yamanli Church, which is located close to the hotel. The Avanos Irmak Hotel has the key to church, which is one of the few churches in which religious groups visiting the region are allowed to pray.


DERE YAMANLI CHURCH

In the squre planarthex, the wall surfaces are decorated in patterns of diamond shaped, star medallion and crosses. In the north portion of the apse is a crown formed of leaves and triangles within which is a Latin cross. Also in the centre of the surface of the north apse is a very ornate Maltese cross. On the eastern side of the nave is a crown decorated with symbolic pearls, leaves and zigzags, which encloses a Maltese cross. On the north side of the nave on a pilaster is a Greek cross and, immediately next to it, a Latin cross. All of these decorations and symbols are difficult to understand and explain but are thought to be associated with early Byzantine and pre-Byzantine culture. The decorative style employed here is reminiscent of pre Byzantine, eastern Roman mosaic and wall decoration. It represents the oldest and most interesting and, at the same time, one of the most difficult churches in the region to interpret. The Dere Yamanlı Church, which is decorated with Latin, Greek and Maltese crosses, bears traces of the first Christian culture of Cappadocia. In this connection, it is impossible not to recall the famous letter of Gregoir of Nissa about Avanos dated 371-79, which states that it is a "wondrous house of prayer-built in memory of the martyrs and in an uncompleted stage of construction, which stands on the left-hand side as one approaches St. Vanonte." The ceiling of the Dere Yamanlı Church really has not been completed. The structure of the church exhibits a pre-Byzantine style of the Syrian type. Despite its state of incompleteness, it is possible to date this building to between the end of the fourth century and the sixth century.

The Dark Church - Goreme

Uchisar

Uchisar Castle

Zelve