Dark Church
The most famous church of the Goreme Open Air Museum, the Dark Church is world-renowned for its extraordinarily preserved 12th-13th century frescoes, thanks to its few windows.
Architecture and Frescoes
The Dark Church was built on a closed Greek cross plan. Three apses supported by four columns and four arches open to the main space. The church gets its name from receiving light only through a small window from the narthex.
This low-light condition has allowed the frescoes to be extraordinarily preserved over centuries. The frescoes in blue, red, and gold tones represent the highest examples of Byzantine painting art. Restoration work in the 1950s cleaned the frescoes from layers of soot.
Scenes and Symbolism
The walls and ceiling of the church present a comprehensive narrative from the life of Christ. The Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Christ Pantocrator depictions in particular are considered masterpieces of Byzantine iconography.
The facial expressions, clothing details, and spatial depth of the figures in the frescoes indicate they were created by the most talented masters of the period.
Scenes
Related Churches
Buckle Church
The largest and most impressive rock church in Goreme, the Buckle Church is the most important Byzantine structure in Cappadocia with its indigo blue frescoes and spacious interior.
Apple Church
The cross-plan Apple Church in the Goreme Open Air Museum stands out with its well-preserved red-toned frescoes and elegant architecture.
Sandals Church
Named after the footprints at its entrance, the Sandals Church houses beautiful examples of 12th-13th century frescoes.