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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. |
