Kilistra Church of the Cross

The ancient city of Kilistra, situated in today’s Hatunsaray in Konya’s Meram district, holds significant strategic importance in Early and Middle Period Christian history due to its church. 

Initially designed as a Roman military base, the city transformed notably after St. Paul and Barnabas fled from Konya to Lystra and began spreading Christianity. This influx of Christians led to the construction of numerous churches and temples in Kilistra. Among these, the Cross-Planned Chapel and the Cross Church, also known as Sandıkkaya, stand out as particularly significant.

The Church of the Cross, or Rock Church, derives its name from the massive rock on which it is built and the Greek cross carved into the archway at the chapel’s entrance. The city's volcanic soil, which is soft and easy to carve, allowed the locals to sculpt the church from a single rock. Believed to have been constructed and used during the 7th or 8th century, the church comprises an entrance, the naos (main area), a burial chamber, and an altar chamber.

Another intriguing aspect of the site is the presence of artifacts from Muslims and Seljuks in the surrounding area. Although the Seljuk coins, ceramics found during excavations, and nearby tombs suggest that different religious groups might have coexisted in the region, the current findings are insufficient to confirm this definitively.