Ortahisar FROM MAYOR | Page 5

TAVŞANLI CHURCH
This church was examined and introduced by G . De Jerphanion and M . Restle . This church is basically-planned . It is covered with barrel vault standing on a narrow cornice . South and north blocks are 5.20 m . Three niches are alined on the top of them in 75-80cm width and 25cm depth . The west block is 3.65 m , the east block is 4.20 width . The apsit is 2m width and 2.1 depth like a horse shoe . There are rectangular and semicircular niches at rear and side walls . These niches are 35 cm width and 30 cm depth also 60 cm height from the floor . These niches are often found at the churches which has got only apsit . they were used especially during the ritual ceremony .
FIRKATAN CHURCH
It is 1 km north of Ortahisar . it is called as ‘ Aynalı Church ’. It is on the way to Göreme and 500 m away from Göreme Open Air Museum . By looking at construction of this church , it is known as a shelter for senior people . People used stone doors and secret gates in order to climb the upper floors . Its kitchen , food stores , and spaces used especially for dangerous situation , and rick stones for closing these gates show that people who live here are important and strictly preserved . The church ’ s ground settlements are at upstairs . There aren ’ t any pictures except for geometric shapes whose color is simple red . It has got a big saloon for ritual ceremony . This ceremony saloon is different from others . As it is close the court house , this church is thought that Judge and senior people lived here . This church in which has got a special architectural style isn ’ t known when it was constructed .
KEPEZ CHURCHES These churches are known as ‘ Sarıca churches ’ because of this region ’ s color . They are in the south-east of Ortahisar and 4 km away from the town . People called their name as Kepez Church because these churches is in Kepez valley . Two of them are on the plains of Kepez valley and the others are independent of the rocks . It can be reached to Kepez churches by using road of Old Seljuk State , or fields . Two churches which are reached firstly were constructed in a big rock by carving . One of them is in lower level , the other is in upper level . There is a cone-shaped rock that 70 m south facade of the church . There is another church on this same rock by using same method . This church was constructed in the form of a chapel . There are rectangularplanned assembly room that might be used for shelter and refectory near this saloon . There are spaces near these churches that are probably settlement places . These three churches and settlment places near them are thought as a monastery complex . One of these church has got different architectural stylen in Cappadocia region .