Agios Nikolaos Church

The Agios Nikolaos Church is located in the Municipality of Agios Vasileios, Greece.

History

• The church was built in 1845 by the Greek community of the city. The construction of the church followed a traditional three-domed basilica plan typical of other Greek churches in Anatolia.
• The entrance to the church property is from a rectangular gate on the southwest side. The symbol of sun on the triangle-shaped fronton on top of the gate defines 'Entrance to Enlightenment'.
• A nine-lined Greek inscription on the marble plate above the church door at the westside dictates:
• Bi abni huda rahim u rahman Ba emri ali sultan Mahmut Han Nikolas azize kelise rumiyan İtti bina Spür kalfa kamilan Antiokheias Methodios ruhban Papazı u khyrsanthos çoban Ukaffei milleti Hristiyan Oldu bunda mahsus u şamizan 1845 Ocak 1

Translated, this inscription reads: "With the help of God the merciful, the beneficient and by the order of the supreme Sultan Mahmut Khan, Saint Nicholas church is built by the master-builder Spür from top to toe. Methodius of Antioch, Khrysantos the shepherd and the whole Christian community felt special and emotional with it. 1 January 1845".

• The church was in service until 1921 and was abandoned after the departure of the community during the Cilicia Christian evacuation.
• The church was converted into Archaeology Museum in 1950. Archaeology Museum moved to a new location in 1972.
• In 1983, the church was occupied by the newly formed Ethnography Museum.
• The church is restored to its origin in 2015 and renamed Kuruköprü Monumental Church.

Architecture

The Agios Nikolaos Church has a rectangular shape in east-west direction from the exterior, while from the interior it follows a three-domed basilica plan typical of other Greek churches in Anatolia.

Notable Features

• The nine-lined Greek inscription on the marble plate above the church door at the westside
• The symbol of sun on the triangle-shaped fronton on top of the gate defining 'Entrance to Enlightenment'

Organ and Bells

Information about the organ and bells is not available.

Heritage Status

The Agios Nikolaos Church has been designated as a notable cultural heritage site in Greece.

Visiting Information

• Address: ΕΠ4
• Opening Hours: Not specified
• Accessibility: The church's accessibility information is not available.

Notable Artworks or Relics

Information about notable artworks or relics is not available.