Faith / Church

Church of the Virgin Mary (Harput)

Merkez, Elazığ

CommonMachine translated

A Syriac church built beneath the castle rock east of Harput Castle, whose inscription mentions the date AD 179.

Safety warning

It is a place of worship; opening hours may change, so do not visit during services. Elazığ was affected by the Sivrice earthquake of 24 January 2020 and the earthquakes of 6 February 2023; historic buildings may be under repair or have visiting restrictions, so check the current situation before visiting.

Its story

The building, also known as the Kızıl Kilise (Red Church) and the Yakubi Church, is east of Harput Castle, just below the rock block on which the castle stands. According to the Syriac inscription inside, it was founded in AD 179 and repaired in 1134 with permission obtained from the Artuqid ruler Fahreddin Karaarslan; some researchers, however, think the present building may date from between the 8th and 12th centuries. The Elazığ provincial yearbook (salname) of the late 19th century also records the church under the name 'Kızıl Kilise'. GoTürkiye presents the church as one of the oldest places of worship in Anatolia still in use and recommends seeing it together with the castle on the Harput route. Its plain structure, merging with the rock, is one of the most tangible witnesses of Harput's multicultural past.

Key facts

Period: AD 179 according to the inscription; later repairs
Admission: Free
Getting there: Eastern foot of Harput Castle
Visit duration: 20 minutes

Trip purpose

Free
Photography

Location

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38.70323, 39.25869

Where to eat nearby

No food & drink venues listed nearby.

Reviews

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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elazığ_Meryem_Ana_Kilisesi | https://goturkiye.com/elazig/48-hours | https://goturkiye.com/elazig/10-vibes-for-elazig | https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/198798732