Pancarlik Valley & Church

Pancarlik Valley & Church

Pancarlık Church, located in an ancient monastic settlement southwest of Urgup, has been a place of worship for Christians for over 1400 years. Its unique architecture and location make it a popular destination for travelers seeking to explore the rich history of the area.

Pancarlık Church features a variety of idiosyncratic architectural elements, more extreme than those found in most other Cappadocian churches. Visitors often describe the design as bizarre and unusual.

Pancarlik Valley & Church

One of the highlights of Pancarlık Church is its narrative fresco program, which includes twenty-nine paintings depicting the story of Christ's life from birth to death. The final event of Jesus' life, his ascension to heaven, is visible on the outer wall in the window. The natural light from behind the painting gives the impression that he has left for glory.

The final event of Jesus’ life, his ascension to heaven, is visible on the outer wall in the window. The natural light from behind this painting makes it appear as if he has left for glory.

The frescoes also include multiple images of saints, as well as scenes from Jesus' life. A row of round icons on the lower roof depicts the Martyrs of Sebaste, forty saints killed by Romans in AD 306. In the apse-arch, six Old Testament prophets, including Solomon and David, are depicted. Saints Theodore and George can be seen on the bottom right side of the south wall. Overall, Pancarlık Church offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the rich religious and cultural history of the region.