Monastery of

Photo by Kelly Bortles Analepsis (Ascension)

WESTERN Ninety minutes away from the heart of historical building that belongs to the local women baking bread in Costs - $125 Cappadocia, lies the quaint mountain council and the Ministry of Culture. It was the neighborhood oven Includes one night village of Güzelyurt, meaning “lovely restored as a hotel in 1985 by the Architec- or in autumn you might double occupancy home.” Far removed from the nightlife ture faculty of the University of Yildiz from see women preparing hotel within walk- and tourism of our other Cappadocia . bulgur (cracked wheat) ing distance of tour, this is a place where “the lifestyle Today, inhabitants of this traditional vil- or pekmez (grape molas- Monastery Valley, Güzelyurt 2 lunches, dinner, is still very traditional and timeless” ac- lage work in agriculture and stock breeding. ses.) The colorful market breakfast, guided cording to the Karbella Hotel guest in- Many work in the major cities as stone ma- is on Monday mornings. tour of Ihlara Valley, formation. This trip from Outdoor Rec sons. In the old village you can see houses transportation and Cave Churches offers a more quiet and reflective chance carved out of the rock as well as traditional Monastery of driver. to explore the fascinating Ihlara and Greek houses with sculpted facades. Analepsis Getting There - Monastery valleys filled with cave churches and it’s own an underground city. Take a walk in Kör Sokak (blind street) at (Ascension) About 3.5 hours from Incirlik. “Güzelyurt became famous with the spread of Christianity in , especially dur- dusk and you will see the “cow parade” in ing the time of Gregory of Naziance the Theologian (4th century) distinguished scholar and the old village’s streets. After a day in the Perched on a rocky 38° 16’ 40.17” N Church Father who played an important role in the development of eastern monastery life. He pastures, the cowherd brings them back to outcrop over the vil- 4° 22’ 19.02” E was born in 328 close of the village of Güzelyurt which has been identified as ancient Karbala,” the village and each cow heads to its barn lage lake, the The High Physical says the Karbella Hotel Guest Information guide. on its own. With a bit of luck, you might see Church and the Monas- Difficulty - MEDIUM. “Güzelyurt used to be inhabited by both tery of Analepsis (As- Greeks and Turks until 1924. At the end of the cension), Yüksek Kilise, Varies from cobble- dates from the 19th stone walks, to Greco-Turkish war (1919-1922) it was agreed climbing hills and to an exchange of populations. The Greek in- century. This site is also walking on rocky habitants were resettled to the villages of Ko- thought to have been an terrain. zan and Kastoria in Greece, and Turks from important Neolithic site Bring a flash light. Salonica were settled in Güzelyurt. from the 4th or 3rd mil- The Karbella Hotel was originally built by lennium B. C. because the Greek community in the heart of the vil- of the great amount of prehistoric tolls and lage in 1856. It served as a monastery and a re- obsidian found at the foot of the monastery. ligious school. A second building was added There is superb view of the village, the lake in 1913. Since the Greeks left, the building has and Hasan Volcano which is 3268 meters high (10,721 feet.) been used as a primary school, a police station Photo by Joseph So © Photo by Joseph So © and a movie theater. The monastery is a listed Exterior of the Karbella Hotel Restaurant at the Karbella Hotel Excerpted from the KarbellaHotel.com website. Outdoor Recreation 676-6044 39fss-odr.blogspot.com 39fss.com Güzelyurt were used to receive patients and pilgrims that came format he Saint Monastery Valley Anargiros festivities. Make sure you Excerpted from the KarbellaHotel.com website. climb the stairs that lead above the church; you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view over the village and As part of our Western Cappadocia Cave Churches hiking trip, you can hike along this 4.5 the St. Gregory Church.” kilometer long valley strewn with about 50 rock churches and monasteries from the Byzantine Saint Gregory of the Nazian- period. It is within walking distance from the hotel, and you can go on your own, or pay a sus Church (Cami Kilise) guide from the Karbella Hotel and the price includes a sack lunch. “The Greek cave houses are a typical example of Cappadocian architecture from the be- “Saint Gregory of the Naziansus ginning of the 20th century. At the end of the valley, you can climb up towards the village of church was built in the 4th century Sivrihisar and from there, walk onto to Red Church set in impressive surroundings.” by the emperor Theodosius. It has the same architectural design as St. Gregory of the Naziansus Church (Cami Kilise) Costs - The “Red” Church: Saint Sophia in Istanbul but smaller. 5 TL Entrance Fee The Church of St. The church has been restored several times by the Greek community and after they left in 1924, Getting There - Panteleimon it was converted into a mosque. The greeks took with them the icons and hold objects from the About 3.5 hours from Incirlik. Part “This is one of the oldest church. The original mount and clapper of the churches golden bell still remain in the church, of the Western built churches (as op- but the bell itself is now in Afyon Museum. A brink minaret replaced the bell tower. Inside Cappadocia Cave posed to rock church- the church, one can just see traces of frescoes that are covered with whitewash. The sculpted Church Hike trip. es). The crossed shaped wood decorations, the iconostasis and the throne were a gift from Tsar Nicolas the 1st in the Physical church and it’s octago- 18th century. The four big icons that were in the iconostasis, the Christ, the Virgin, the three Difficulty - nal dome are built of Church Fathers (St. Gregory of Naziance, St. Basil of Caesarea and St. Basil of ) and St. MEDIUM. John the Baptist are now in the church in the village of Neo Karvali in northern Greece. Varies from large blocks of dark red cobblestone walks, stone. It stands on it’s The Ottomans granted the Church the right to mint coins that were used not only within to climbing hilly own in a field against the community but also between the Greeks and Turks. The coins were minted in the rooms and rocky terrain. the backdrop of the The “Red” Church adjacent to the church. In the courtyard, there’s a staircase with 36 steps leading down to what Most of the hike is Meledniz Mountains. It is said that it was here that St. Gregory of Nazian- is still believed to be a sacred spring.” hilly, and we will pick you up at the sus spent the latter part of his life and that the church was built on the site bottom. where he was buried. For those who don’t want to hike the entire Monas- Bring a flash light. tery Valley, you can drive the six kilometers from Güzelyurt. Take the road that leads out of the vil- lage towards Sivihasar and Nigde and drive along a winding moun- tain pass. St. Anargiros Church (Sivilsi Kilise) The Saint Anargiros Church is carved out of rock and has a dome and 4 columns. You can still see the frescoes in the dome that date from 1877. The Anar- gyres were doctors re- vered in all of the Near Photo by Kelly Bortles © Photos Courtesy of the Karbella Hotel East. The rooms carved St. Anargiros Church around the church Entrance to the Underground City Outdoor Recreation 676-6044 39fss-odr.blogspot.com 39fss.com Monastery Valley the walls. On the left , you can see the from the main Quoted from the website, www.goreme.com/ Annunciation, the Visitation, the Proof of the entrance and you ihlara-valley.php Photos used by permission. Virgin, the Nativity and the Adoration of the will find yourself Ihlara Valley Magi scenes. On the right, you will see the 10 meters from Last Supper, the Betrayal, Jesus being Led the church. This “Ihlara Valley, is a 14 kilometer long canyon until Belisirma Village where you can see Away, Jesus before Annas and Caiaphos, the church is quite with a depth of approximately 100 meters most of the churches and natural beauty. Crucifixion and the Entombment. On the different from the is strewn with about one hundred churches It is very pleasant to walk through the door facing the entrance there is a Deesis other churches and believed to have once been home to Ihlara valley by the vineyards, poplars and above, with scenes of the Flight to Egypt. of the Byzantine about eighty thousand people. There are 4 pistachio trees to the soothing sound of the The Last Supper below was badly damaged world of the 10th entrances to Ihlara valley. The first one is at rushing water surrounded by a rich wildlife when openings were made at a much later and 11th century the start of the valley in Ihlara Village. The of lizards, frogs, butterflies, birds and some- date for windows and a door. On the ceiling Cappadocia, with its harmoniously con- second one opens to the 4th kilometer of the times eagles and other mammals like lambs you can see the Ascension and the Pentecost trasted colors of red, green and yellow, the valley and it is the most and sheep. together with a large Greek cross with the subjects of its paintings and its decoration Costs - popular entrance. It has Most of the many cave churches in 5 TL Entrance Fee hand of God giving benediction in the cen- of flowers, rosettes and checkerboard pat- more than 300 steps Ihlara Valley display scenes dissimilar to ter. On each side of the lower parts of the terns, all betraying strong eastern influence. Getting There - down to the valley. The the scenes depicted in other Cappadocian About 3.5 hours vaulting there are frescoes depicting the The church, also known as the Church of third entrance is Beli- churches. In fact, they are reminiscent of from Incirlik. Part apostles standing and seated. Daniel or the Church of Pantassa, has a free of the Western sirma village which al- the early churches of Syria and the Coptic cross architectural plan. On the wall oppo- Cappadocia Cave lows you to enter the churches of Egypt. Some of the most impor- Purenli Seki Kilisesi site the entrance there is a fresco of Daniel in Hiking trip. valley by driving. It is tant churches in the Ihlara Valley are: (Church with the Terrace) the Lion’s Den. The left cross-arm contains Physical located at the 7th kilo- Also located in the first quarter of the the Annuciation, the Visitation, the Nativity Difficulty - meter, and has restau- Kokar Kilise (The Smelly Church) valley, this church is around 100 meters and the Magi. The right cross-arm contains MEDIUM. rants by Melendiz River The Kokar Kilise (The Smelly Church) is You can begin from Kokar Kilise. You have to climb about the Flight into Egypt, the Baptism and the to have lunch. Most of located in the near the village of 25 meters above the level of the river. The Dormition. The Dormition of the Virgin Ihlara and walk all the guided tours end first quarter of church is covered by frescoes classified as (Koimesis) is unique as far as Cappadocia is the way down to their walking here after the valley be- “archaic” but characterized by exquisite de- concerned. It is composed of two scenes. In Yaprakhisar (Selime) lunch. The last entrance tween Ihlara (5 Hours of walking) tails, a strong sense of design and amazing the first scene, Mary is lying on a bed, with is the end of the valley Village and or you can exit the freedom of expression. Christ accompanied by St. John sitting on at the Selime Monastery. the main en- valley half way to one side of the bed to recover her soul. In the little village of The best part of the val- trance. There Agacalti Kilise the upper scene Christ is shown holding his Belisirma (2.5 hours ley is the first 7 kilome- are many fres- (Church under the Tree) of walking.) Mother’s soul, with an Angel behind him.” ters from Ihlara Village coes covering Turn right at the bottom of the stairs Outdoor Recreation 676-6044 39fss-odr.blogspot.com 39fss.com Ihlara Valley