Dark Church Entrance
Churches
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Dark Church Entrance
Churches
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Witness the Amazing History of the Dark Church!
With its centuries-old frescoes, the famous Dark Church in Cappadocia transports tourists back in time. Because very little light enters the structure through a tiny window in the narthex area, the frescoes there are in good condition, and that's also why it was named 'Dark Church'. Biblical events such as the Last Supper, the Journey to Bethlehem, the Birth, the "Biblical Magi" (Three Wise Men), the Baptism, the Raising of Lazarus, the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus on the Cross, and Abraham's Hospitality are shown in the original frescos. With Cappadocia Travel Pass® you can enter and see amazing frescoes with your own eyes.
About The Dark Church Entrance
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Highlights
Explore amazing frescos in Dark Church
Have a glimpse of Christians living around the 11th century
Enjoy the fantastic atmosphere of the Church
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Entrance to Dark Church
Details
The Dark Church, which dates back to the 11th century, is listed alongside Goreme National Park on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Goreme Valley of Cappadocia, one of the most well-liked getaway destinations during the Byzantine era, is where the church is situated. The small window, from which the church gets very little light, is also the source of the name of the church. The frescoes stayed mainly alive since the light level was low. In fact, experts claim that the Dark Church boasts Cappadocia's best-preserved frescoes.
The church is situated inside the Göreme Open Air Museum, which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Because very little light enters the structure through a tiny window in the narthex area, the frescoes there are in good condition. With its centuries-old frescoes, the famous Karanlk Kilise (The Dark Church) in Cappadocia, one of Turkey's major tourist destinations, transports tourists back in time.
Hours & Meeting
Open every day.
Opening time: 08:00
Closing time: 17:00
How To Get There?
Gaferli Mah. Müze Cad. Göreme Açıkhava Müzesi Bilet Gişesi Göreme
Dark Church Entrance
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All About Dark Church Entrance
The 11th-century Dark Church is included alongside Goreme National Park on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The church is located in Cappadocia's Goreme Valley, one of the most popular vacation spots during the Byzantine era. The small window, which lets in very little light into the church, is also where the name of the building comes from. Due to the dim lighting, the frescoes mostly survived. Indeed, according to experts, the Dark Church is home to some of Cappadocia's best-preserved frescoes.
An Important Place for Christianity
Biblical events such as the Last Supper, the Journey to Bethlehem, the Birth, the "Biblical Magi" (Three Wise Men), the Baptism, the Raising of Lazarus, the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus on the Cross, and Abraham's Hospitality are shown in the original frescos. In the eleventh century, the church was cut off pliable tuff rocks.
It is one of the rare places of worship with frescoes depicting incidents from the Torah and the Bible. The church's staff can provide tourists with information about the scenes painted on the walls and ceiling.
The frescoes in the Dark Church attract the attention of many foreign visitors to the area. The interior frescoes transport guests back in time. The Dark Church boasts the best-preserved frescoes out of all the nearby medieval churches. From Jesus' birth till his crucifixion, various scenes are shown here. The Dark Church holds equal significance for the Göreme Open Air Museum as the harem, or the imperial family dwelling, does for Topkapi Palace.
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Advantages Of Cappadocia Travel Pass
Cappadocia Travel Pass comes with several benefits. Price reduction is one of the biggest benefits but surely not the only one! You can not only save a lot of money by purchasing a Cappadocia Travel Pass but also save a huge amount of precious time by skipping long queues with your pass. Feel like a VIP unlocking the doors of the top attractions and experiences in Cappadocia. Moreover, you can even fly over Cappadocia with a DISCOUNTED hot air balloon and get to experience the mysterious fairy chimneys from the sky!
Dark Church Entrance Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Christians hide in Cappadocia?
Is Turkey the birthplace of Christianity?
Although Christianity did not originate in Turkey, it did develop there after Jesus' death when many of his apostles traveled to the Mediterranean region on missionary missions and evacuated Jerusalem in search of religious freedom.
What is inside the Dark Church Cappadocia?
The original frescoes portray biblical scenes like the "Last Supper," "Journey to Bethlehem," "Birth," "Biblical Magi" (Three Wise Men), "Baptism," "Raising of Lazarus," "Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem,” "Jesus on the Cross" and "Abraham’s Hospitality."
Why the church is named as Dark Church?
Because very little light enters the structure through a tiny window in the narthex area, the church is named Dark Church. That's also the reason why the frescoes there are in good condition.
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One of the most significant Christian centers, Cappadocia was home to Christians fleeing the rule of the Roman Empire, the area was transformed into a vast heaven with homes and churches constructed into the caves and rocks.