Koimesis Tes Panagias Church Carved Into Rocks

The Koimesis Tes Panagias Church, which was carved into a rock at the Dikilikaya location on the southern slope of Sille, a region of Konya that dates back to the Neolithic period, is among the interesting examples of Anatolia's rich history.

The church has a three-nave basilica plan, and from the wall carvings, it is understood that the structure had at least two different periods. Originally a two-nave church, it was expanded to its current form in the south and east directions. In the cleaning work done in the summer of 2006, various graves were found on the floor of the church. The frescoes on the north wall and arch surfaces of the church can still be seen.

In the frescoes, the scene of Mary's death (Koimesis), which gives the church its name, can be selected. On the left side of the composition, the child soul of Mary is depicted in the arms of Jesus, while on the right side, there are saintly figures with halos, slightly bowed forward.

There are depictions of Mary and saints standing, portrayed from head to toe, on the arch bellies and pillar faces that connect the pillars in front of the apse. A spacious area has been added to the east of the church. This rectangular-shaped area is divided by four pillars, one of which has not survived to the present day. The oven niches discovered in the excavations and the pits where grain or liquid foods were stored indicate that this was a monastery dining hall.