St. John

St. John is a rock-carved church in Gülşehir with two stories and multiple chambers including a cellar, graves, a dormitory, and rooms for religious officials. The site shows how early believers created their places of worship by carving directly into the natural rock formations of the region.

The ground floor was built before the Byzantine iconoclasm period, while the upper story was completed in 1212. This expansion shows how the site evolved over generations of use.

The upper level displays frescoes of biblical figures including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Solomon, and David painted on the ceiling. These images show how people visualized their faith through religious art.

The site requires careful walking through narrow stone-carved passages and is partly dark, so a flashlight or headlamp is recommended. Visitors should be prepared for steep areas and wear proper footwear.

The walls feature rare light blue and orange halos around angel figures, distinguishing this church from other rock churches in Cappadocia. This unusual color choice gives the heavenly figures a distinctive appearance.

Location: Gülşehir

Location: Nevşehir

GPS coordinates: 38.74070,34.63476

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:00