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[2]
Church 2 is about 50m south of church 1 (41.611040366748, 27.954626919524). It is a much more self-contained, angular affair with a rectangular cross-section. The thin slab of roof has fallen in some places and there are recent makeshift repairs with concrete. There is an apse shape carved into the eastern end of the building, with some details of the iconostasis remaining. These include the distinctive triplet of small niches, already noted in church 1. There is also a larger niche on the northern side of the apse. There was apparently a carved narthex (Civelik) but I saw little trace of this in 2016.
[3]Eastern end of church 2 showing carved apse
[4]The triple niche characteristic of churches in this region
The TAY report of 2009 made complaints that the place was being damaged by its use as an animal shelter. Much more damage has been done by the ubiquitous treasure-hunters who, nonetheless do some of one’s digging for one so details can be seen at depth. There is a lot of earthenware debris outside.
[5]This hints at the detail that was once in the carved iconostasis
Civelik, E. (2016) Balkaya Kayaya Oyma Kilise 2. Kırklareli Kültür Varlıkları Envanteri. Available online at: http://www.kirklarelienvanteri.gov.tr/anitlar.php?id=89 [6] Accessed 24th Jan 2017
Tanindi, O, Kurt, Ö. et al (2009): Archaeological Destruction in Turkey, Preliminary Report – Marmara Region Byzantine Period, TAY Project – Scientific Reports Series 16/Eng, Istanbul. Partially available at: http://www.tayproject.org/dosyabizmareng.html [7]
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