Faith / Church
Church of the Forty Martyrs (Şahinefendi)
Ürgüp, Nevşehir
An early-13th-century rock church near Şahinefendi village, known for its rich frescoes depicting the lives of the Forty Martyrs of Sebasteia.
Its story
The Church of the Forty Martyrs is in a branch of the Damsa valley, about 1 km from the village of Şahinefendi south of Ürgüp. The two-nave church takes its name from the forty Roman soldiers martyred in the early 4th century in Sivas (Sebasteia) by being left on a frozen lake. About twenty scenes spread over the walls and vaults of the north nave tell these saints' story in detail and form an important program in Byzantine art. Its inscription shows that the building was decorated in the early 13th century.
Key facts
- Period
- Early 13th century
- Admission
- Can be visited when the attendant is present; confirm on site
- Visit duration
- 30 minutes
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Quiet
Location
38.47208, 34.95505
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ijhe/article/1872824 | https://www.lonelyplanet.com/pois/1006606