[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26871 'Church of the Three Crosses-2.' The Cappadocian Callidere Valley, north of Göreme, harbours the Byzantine Church of the Three Crosses, which has been carved into the soft tuff. The crosses that have given their name to the cave-church are cut into the ceiling. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26804 'Domes of the Elmali Church-1.' The nine domes of the Byzantine Elmali Church have been cut out of the volcanic rock east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme. Its frescoes date from the 11th century. This cave church is part of a monastic settlement that was occupied from the 4th till the 13th century and is now situated in the Göreme Open-air Museum. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26807 'Saint in the Elmali Church-1.' An 11th century fresco of a saint in beautiful garments and expensive boots adorns the Byzantine Elmali Church that has been cut out of the volcanic rock east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme. The cave church is part of a monastic settlement that was occupied from the 4th till the 13th century and is now situated in the Göreme Open-air Museum. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26809 'Saint Barbara Chapel-1.' The domes of the St. Barbara Chapel have been cut out of the volcanic rock east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme. Its abstract decorations date from the iconoclastic period (725- 842 AD) when images of god or saints were not allowed. The cave church is part of a monastic settlement that was occupied from the 4th till the 13th century and is now situated in the Göreme Open-air Museum. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26811 'Saint Barbara Chapel-2.' The domes of the St. Barbara Chapel have been cut out of the volcanic rock east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme. Its abstract decorations date from the iconoclastic period (725- 842 AD) when images of god or saints were not allowed. The cave church is part of a monastic settlement that was occupied from the 4th till the 13th century and is now situated in the Göreme Open-air Museum. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26813 'Circular cross.' A small cave church in the Kiliclar Valley, east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme, bears a circular cross on its wall. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26815 'Iconoclastic tree.' On the slopes of the Kiliclar (Sword) Valley, east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme, many small cave churches and chapels can be found. Some bear decorations (painted in red ochre) from the iconoclastic period (726-843 AD) when the depiction of human figures was banned as idolatry and the religious message was communicated by symbols such as crosses, birds, trees, and fish. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26853 'Pigeon house in Hallacdere monastery.' Many pigeon houses in Cappadocia have painted decorations at their entrance, in accordance with an old belief that says that the birds are attracted by striking colours and forms. Pigeons were kept for their droppings which were used as fertilizer on nearby fields. The entrance to this pigeon loft can be found in the facade of a disused cave church in the Halladere monastic complex 1 km northeast of Ortahisar Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26875 'Holy family in the Ayvali Kilise.' This early 10th century fresco of the Holy Family can be found in the Ayvali Church, a cave church on the western slope of the Aktepe table mountain, north of Göreme. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26877 'Church of the Cross-1.' An ensemble of tuff cones with rose base and grey-yellow top, at the head of the Cappadocian Güllüdere Valley, contains the Byzantine Church of the Cross (Hacli Kilise). Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26904 'St. Johns Church at Gülsehir.' Thirteenth century frescoes adorn the ceilings and walls of the rock-cut St. Johns Church (Karsi Kilise) near the Cappadocian town of Gülsehir. Medallions with Byzantine saints (centre), the Last Supper, Judas kissing Jesus and Jesus' baptism are some of the scenes that can be admired here. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26906 'Weeping Maries-2.' As the weeping Maries arrive at Jesus' tomb, a white robed angel announces Christ's resurrection. Thirteenth century frescoe adorning the ceiling of the rock-cut St. Johns Church (Karsi Kilise) near the Cappadocian town of Gülsehir. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26855 'Church in Hallacdere monastery-1.' In this Byzantine cave-church in the Halladere monastic complex, northeast of the Cappadocian village of Ortahisar, false columns and vaulting have been carved into the tuff. In later times the church has functioned as a pigeon house, which is the reason why the outer wall has a rectangular niche with twelve entrance holes for pigeons. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26806 'Domes of the Elmali Church-2.' Eleventh century images of Christ and saints adorn the domes of the Byzantine Elmali Church that have been cut out of the volcanic rock east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme. This cave church is part of a monastic settlement that was occupied from the 4th till the 13th century and is now situated in the Göreme Open-air Museum. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26808 'Saint in the Elmali Church-2.' An 11th century fresco of a saint adorns the Byzantine Elmali Church that has been cut out of the volcanic rock east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme. The cave church is part of a monastic settlement that was occupied from the 4th till the 13th century and is now situated in the Göreme Open-air Museum. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26812 'Saint in El Nazar Church.' This 11th century portrait of a saint can be found in the El Nazar Church, which is carved out of a conical rock formation ('fairy chimney') to the east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26870 'Church of the Three Crosses-1.' The Cappadocian Callidere Valley, north of Göreme, harbours the Byzantine Church of the Three Crosses, which has been carved into the soft tuff. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26814 'Iconoclastic bird.' On the slopes of the Kiliclar (Sword) Valley, east of the Cappadocian village of Göreme, many small cave churches and chapels can be found. Some bear decorations (painted in red ochre) from the iconoclastic period (726-843 AD) when the depiction of human figures was banned as idolatry and the religious message was communicated by symbols such as crosses, birds, trees, and fish. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26852 'Pigeon house near Göreme.' Many pigeon houses in Cappadocia have painted decorations at their entrance, in accordance with an old belief that says that the birds are attracted by striking colours and forms. Pigeons were kept for their droppings which were used as fertilizer on nearby fields. The entrance to this pigeon loft can be found in the facade of a disused cave church southwest of Göreme. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26857 'Church in Hallacdere monastery-2.' In this Byzantine cave-church in the Halladere monastic complex, northeast of the Cappadocian village of Ortahisar, false columns and vaulting have been carved into the tuff. In later times the church has functioned as a pigeon house, which is the reason why the outer wall has a rectangular niche with twelve entrance holes for pigeons. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26876 'Angel in Cavusin.' The Cappadocian village of Cavusin (north of Göreme) has a 11th century fresco of an elegantly winged angel in its Güvercinlik Church. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26878 'Church of the Cross-2.' An ensemble of tuff cones with rose base and grey-yellow top, at the head of the Cappadocian Güllüdere Valley, contains the Byzantine Church of the Cross (Hacli Kilise). The colour differences in the tuff (consolidated volcanic ash) are due to variations in temperature and mineral composition of the lava from which the ash was derived during its eruption. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26905 'Weeping Maries-1.' As the weeping Maries arrive at Jesus' tomb, guarded by two soldiers (right below), a white robed angel announces Christ's resurrection. Thirteenth century frescoe adorning the ceiling of the rock-cut St. Johns Church (Karsi Kilise) near the Cappadocian town of Gülsehir. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[TURKEY.CENTRAL 26907 'Soldiers guarding Christ's tomb.' Two soldiers, sitting beside the tomb of Christ, seem to be leisurely chatting away in this 13th century frescoe adorning the ceiling of the St. Johns Church (Karsi Kilise). The church, which is carved into a cone of soft volcanic tuff, can be found near the Cappadocian town of Gülsehir. Photo Mick Palarczyk.