CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

Cappadocia (from Ancient Greek: Καππαδοκία) is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in the Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, and Niğde Provinces in Turkey. In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine (Black Sea). Cappadocia, in this sense, was bounded in the south by the chain of the Taurus Mountains that separate it from Cilicia, to the east by the upper Euphrates and the Armenian Highland, to the north by Pontus, and to the west by Lycaonia and eastern Galatia.

The name, traditionally used in Christian sources throughout history, continues in use as an international tourism concept to define a region of exceptional natural wonders, in particular characterised by geological structures known as 'fairy chimneys' and a unique historical and cultural heritage.

A hoodoo (also called a tent rock, fairy chimney, and earth pyramid) is a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Hoodoos, which may range from 1.5–45 metres, typically consist of relatively soft rock topped by harder, less easily eroded stone that protects each column from the elements. They generally form within sedimentary rock and volcanic rock formations. Hoodoo shapes are affected by the erosional patterns of alternating hard and softer rock layers. Minerals deposited within different rock types cause hoodoos to have different colours throughout their height.

This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme.

2014: MY YEAR IN REVIEW IN IMAGES

Today's post is a review of some of my photos from 2014. Each of the twelve photos represents a post of mine for each of the twelve months.

This post is part of the Nature Footsteps Floral Macros meme,
and also part of the Our World Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

JANUARY: Sunset in Melbourne, Australia

FEBRUARY: Geranium in our garden

MARCH: Hanoi, Vietnam

APRIL: Sunrise in Melbourne, Australia

MAY: Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, Greece

JUNE: Carpet maker in India

JULY: War Memorial in Canberra, Australia 

AUGUST: Reminiscing in Melbourne, Australia

SEPTEMBER: Tulip festival in the Dandenongs, Melbourne, Australia 

OCTOBER: Skyscrapers in Perth, Australia

NOVEMBER: Castel Sant' Angelo in Rome, Italy

DECEMBER: Rock church in Cappadocia, Turkey

SINASOS CHURCH, TURKEY

Mustafapaşa is a town in Nevşehir Province, Cappadocia, Turkey. The population of Mustafapaşa was 1550 as of 2011. The former name of Mustafapaşa during the Ottoman Empire era was Sinasos. It had a mixed population. Greeks and Karamanlides (Turkish speaking Christians), which constituted the majority of the population (≈3,000), and Muslim Turks who constituted the rest (≈500).

Although situated far from the seas Sinasiotes (Greeks from Sinasos) who temporarily migrated to İstanbul, were known to be the traders of seafood and especially caviar. The small town had many splendid, opulent mansions due to the wealth derived from the İstanbul trade.

In 1924, however, as a result of the population exchange agreement between Greece and Turkey, Greeks and Karamanlides left the town for Nea Sinasos a town in the northern part of the island of Euboea in Greece. They were replaced by Bulgarian Muslims and Turks from Kastoria, a town in northern Greece. During the exchange years the town lost its former prosperity.

In its heyday, Sinasos had nearly 30 churches in the town and 30 in its vicinity. One of the two public churches, the one carved in rock and dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel was destroyed in the beginning of the 20th century without any evidence suggesting its former existence. The second public church “Church of Constantine and Helena” in the town centre has been preserved and I ams haring with you some photos we took when we visited in June 2007.

The church is structurally sound, but its decorative features, frescoes, religious images and Christian carvings have been removed, as has the large iconostasis and icons that graced the holy of holies. The municipality of Mustafapaşa has started the restoration of the church and to this end many Greeks of Cappadocian origin are assisting in this project.

This post is part of the Scenic Weekends meme,
and also part of the Spiritual Sundays meme,
and also part of the inSPIREd Sunday meme.

SINASOS, CAPPADOCIA

Mustafapaşa is a town in Ürgüp district of Nevşehir Province in Cappadocia, Turkey. It is situated to the west of Gomeda valley. Its distance to Ürgüp is 5 kilometres and to Nevşehir is 27 kilometres. The population of Mustafapaşa was 1550 as of 2011.

Former name of Mustafapaşa during the Ottoman Empire era was Sinasos. It had a mixed population. Greeks and Karamanlides (Turkish speaking Christians) constituted the majority of the population and Muslim Turks constituted the rest. Although situated far from the seas Sinasos Greeks who temporarity migrated to İstanbul, were known to be the traders of seafood and especially caviare.

The small town had many elaborate houses by the wealth from Istanbul. In 1924 however by the population exchange between Greece and Turkey agreement, Greeks and Karamanlides left the town for Nea Sinasos a town in the northern part of the island of Euboea in Greece. They were replaced by Turks from Kastoria, a town in northern Greece. During the exchange years the town lost its former prosperity.

The town economy used to depend on agriculture. But the town is a part of Cappadocia, a touristic region of Turkey known for fairy chimneys and medieval rock carved churches. Now hotels are being built around the town and tourist activities are being developed. Many Greeks whose families originated in Sinasos regularly visit this town.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme.