Üçayak Byzantine Church

Üçayak Byzantine Church

Located in Kırşehir Province, Turkey, the ruins of Uçayak Byzantine Church stand out due to their unique placement in a remote area without any signs of human habitation. This exceptional church has been recognized for its exceptionally high artistic level, featuring an all-brick construction (except for the foundation), sloping walls, and a double or twin-church design in a basilica style. Its construction has been dated to the late 10th or 11th century AD.

The church's architectural style and remnants of decorations on the facade and sloping walls led to its chronology being placed in the late 10th or 11th century AD. It was first discovered in 1842 by W. F. Ainsworth, whose travel notes were used by John Winter Crowfoot when he visited the ruins in 1900. These notes were eventually published, contributing to our understanding of this unique church.

Üçayak Byzantine Church

The Uçayak Byzantine Church's design is atypical for Byzantine architecture. It is comprised of two adjacent naves separated by a wall, with each nave having its own dome. The naves are quadrangular, and there is a common oblong-shaped narthex. The church also includes two occuli (reliquaries) - one bank is octagonal and the next is circular. Additionally, each apse includes two rectangular bays in front of it. The Uçayak Byzantine Church's unique design and historical significance make it a fascinating site to visit.

The Üçayak Byzantine Church, located in Kırşehir Province, Turkey, stands out due to its double-church design, which is even more unique as the two churches were built simultaneously and not sequentially. Scholars speculate that the church was built in honor of two different saints or martyrs or for two powerful figures, though no relics have been found.

The church was adorned with arches that formed niches, a common technique used in churches built in the eighteenth century. Similar techniques were used in other churches, such as the Church of the Dormition of Mother of God in Nicaea and Çanlıkilisse in Cappadocia.

During his visit to the site in 1900, John Winter Crowfoot discovered faint traces of a fresco on a pendentive, an arched plateau. He reported that the fresco was difficult to discern due to its size and location. Additionally, he found two illegible inscriptions that may have contained information about the reason behind the construction of the remote church.