Tokali (Buckle) Church
This is one of the oldest
known rock cut church in the Cappadocia and consists
of four sections, the old
church with one nave, the
new church, the lower church
under the old church and the
parecclesion to the north of
the new church. The single
naved, barrel vaulted old
church built in the 10th
century, today acts as the
entrance to the new church,
its apse collapsed when the
new church was added to the
east wing. Frescoesare to be
found on the vault and at
the top of the walls. The
life of Jesus is told on
seperate panels on the
vault, running from left to
right. Scenes, Portraits of
the saints are in the center
of the vault. On the top
panel of right wing are
annunciation, visitation,
proof of the virgin, journey
to Bethlehem, and nativity.
On the top panel of the left
wing are, adoration of the
magi, massagre of the
innocents, flight into
Egypt, presentation of Jesus
in the template and killing
Zacharias. On the middle
panel of the right wing are
pursuit of Elizabeth,
calling of St. John the
Baptist, preaching of John,
John meeting Jesus, Baptism
and marriage at cana. On the
middle panel of the left
wing are miracle of the
wine, miracle of the loaves
and fishes, calling of the
apostles, healing of the
biling man and raising of
Lazarus. On the lower panel
of the right wing are entry
into Jarusalem, the last
supper, Betrayal and Jesus
before pilate. On the left
lower panel of the left wing
are way of the cross,
crucifixion, descent from
the cross, entombment, woman
at the tomb, Anastasis and
Ascension. Beneath this
panel are portraits of the
saints, and transfiguration
is painted over the
entrance. The new church is
transversally rectanguler
with a simple barrel vault.
On the east wall there are
four columns joined by
arches. Behind which there
is a raised corridor in
front of vaulted nave is the
story of Jesus in
chronolgical order in mainly
bright red and blue colours.
The dark blue colour serves
to distinguish the Tokali
church from the other
churches. On the transversal
nave are scenes from the
life of St. Basil, portraits
of some saints and pictures
of the miracles of Jesus,
the church is dated back to
last decade of the 10th
century and the first decade
of the 11th century.
Scenes: On the north wing of the vault are annunciation, visitation, proof of the virgin, nativity and adoration of the Magi. On the north wall of the vault are Joseph's deram and journey to Bethlehem and below these in the niches are portraits of eight saints, at the very bottom are calling of St. John the baptist, John meeting Jesus, baptism, presentation of Jesus in the template, calling of Matthew, calling of the Apostles and Marriage at Cana; on the west wing flight into Egypt, temptation of christ and christ in the template when twelve years old, on the south wing of the vault are the first diacons, pentecost and blessing and mission of the apostles, on the south wall of the vault are some unidentified angels, below them in the niches are portraits of saints. At the very bottom are healing of the Nobleman's son, raising the daughter of jairus, healing the paralytic, raising of Lazarus, entry into Jerusalem and last supper.. On the west wing is washing of the disciples feet, on the man apse conch are crufifixion, descent from the cross, women at the tombs, Anastasis, on the front wall of the apse are the first diacons and Jesus and the samatian woman, inside the niche is mother Mary and baby Jesus, and on the apse to the north is prophetic vision and angels. |