Christian Religious Architecture of The Ottoman Period in Cappadocia Region (Especially in Kayseri And Around)

As a result of the Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923, a population exchange between Turkey and Greece occurred, which caused damages and loses for both sides, and also for the Christian religious buildings built during the Ottoman period. Religious structures of Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox nation's, which are thought to be built in the 18th – 19th centuries, especially in Kayseri and around, can be seen in Cappadocia region of Asia Minor, where in a variety of placements Christian religious buildings can be seen from the east to west. However, because a healthy and trustworthy inventory study wasn’t made during the population exchange, it is quite difficult to identify the numbers of monuments built in Asia Minor. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the studies of structures built in the Ottoman period by the non-Muslim citizens, not only in Central Anatolia, but also cross Asia Minor and Istanbul. Included in this study is a geographical history of Cappadocia and Kayseri, which continues with the activities of non-Muslim citizens of this region, the demographic structure of the Ottoman Empire and especially those of the non-Muslims in Kayseri, and mentions as a place in history, about the legal rights and status of the non-Muslim citizens in the empire. The study also gives information about the construction date and current situation about twelve settlements of Kayseri named Agirnas, Aydinlar, Balagesi, Baskoy, Derevank, Endurluk, Farasa, Incesu, Kayabag, Konaklar, Talas and Zincidere. Also presenting their architectural style, which are supported by the necessary visual material, and relevant suggestions have been made to overcome the lack of archives, either.

Keywords

19th century, Non-Muslim Ottoman, Church Construction, Treaty of Lausanne, Population Exchange