Kizil Kilise

Kizil Kilise Red Church
Kizil Kilise in Güzelyurt, Aksaray before restoration
Shown within Turkey
Basic information
Location	Güzelyurt, Aksaray Province
Geographic coordinates
Architectural description
Completed	6th century
Materials	Red volcanic stone

This article is about the church in Cappadocia. For other uses, see Kizil Kilise (disambiguation).

Kizil Kilise, the Red Church, also known as Sivrihisar Kizil Kilise to distinguish it from other structures called Kizil Kilise, is a partially ruined sixth-century church in the Güzelyurt district of Aksaray Province, Turkey. The church takes its name from the red stone used to build it. The building has been listed in the World Monuments Watch since 2008.

Background

Probably erected in the sixth century during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565), the edifice is one of the oldest Christian shrines of the Cappadocia region. The church was possibly dedicated to Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the fathers of the Cappadocian church.

In central and eastern Cappadocia, 5th and 6th-century churches with cross-shaped plans were standard. Kizil Kilise follows this plan form, using local volcanic stones cut into regular blocks by highly skilled workers. Architecturally, the most characteristic element of the church is its central dome, erected above an octagonal drum. Eight windows pierce the drum, flooding the nave with light. The only later addition to the building is the narthex; otherwise the church, albeit damaged, still retains its original form. The presence of huge lintels finished off using a highly professional technique hints to a usage as an imperial or burial chapel. Pilgrims traversing Anatolia on the way to Jerusalem along an ancient route could readily reach the church.

Gertrude Bell (1868–1926), the British archaeologist and writer, photographed and measured Kizil Kilise in 1907.

Reconstruction activities

In 2011 a program of reconstruction work began at the church. International fundraising raised €500,000 to finance the work. İsmet Ağaryılmaz, a retired professor who previously taught restoration techniques at Yıldız Technical University, directed the project.