As a VisitCappadocia.net guide, let me introduce you to the Konstantinos-Eleni Church, located in the Mustafapasa district of Cappadocia. The church is one of the most prominent buildings in the region, built during the Ottoman period in Sinasos, which is now known as Mustafapasa.
The Konstantinos-Eleni Church is located in the center of Mustafapasa and can be easily reached by car or public transportation. If you are coming from Nevsehir, it is a 20-minute drive. If you are coming from Goreme, it will take approximately 30 minutes to reach the church.
The church is a basilica planned structure with a barrel vault, three naves, and three apses, and there is an open courtyard on the west. Above the entrance door, there is an eight-line inscription written on a marble stone in Greek letters that explains the history of the church.
The church has various decorations, including yellow and dark blue plant and fruit motifs around the inscription, as well as geometric ornaments that enhance the entrance. The upper part of the facade above the entrance door has three windows with reliefs around the middle window, including two dragons standing opposite each other with their heads raised in the middle, the angel Seraph on the left, and the eagle figure on the right.
The interior of the church is carved into the rock and opens to a space with a low ceiling. In that space, people may have spent the night and prayed for healing. Stone material was used on the church walls, which was built with the masonry and carving technique, and wood and iron materials were used in the door, ceiling, and window elements.
The church was renovated in 1850 and has been used for various events, including Sunday rites and feasts, school events, ceremonies to welcome the bishop’s guests, prayers for the sultan’s health, or the army’s success. Today, the church is open to visitors and hosts various cultural and artistic events.
There are various legendary stories associated with the construction of the church. Christians could not build new churches from 1453 until 1839 when the Tanzimat Edict granted Christian citizens the freedom to build churches. According to a statement by Serafim Rizos, the church took its current form as a result of the efforts of the villagers who mobilized to demolish the old church and build a new one within eighty days. In the 1850s, the church was repaired with the money collected by the villagers. The information from Serafim Rizos coincides with the inscription.
In conclusion, the Konstantinos-Eleni Church is a must-see attraction for tourists visiting Mustafapasa in Cappadocia. Its rich history, architectural features, and cultural significance make it an important landmark in the region.
