This cross-shaped church has six columns, hence the name. The large adjoining chamber originally had two storeys, as you can see from what’s left of the steps and the holes in the walls from the supporting beams. There are burial chambers in the floor. Direkli Kilise (Columned Church) has largely collapsed so that it looks more like a cave than a church.has largely collapsed so that it looks more like a cave than a church.
Columned Church is located at the bottom of the slope. The main decorations are Iconoclastic-doctrine high relief crosses.
Columned Church (Direkli Kilise),
Direkli Kilise – Church of Columns, ” Six Columns “
Direkli Kilise constructed between the years 976 and 1025, this is another of the rare churches whose construction date is known. The cruciform church has three apses. The central dome is supported by six columns , for which the church has been named (direk meaning column in Turkish).
Within the church can be found the cells in which the monks lived, as well as burial niches. The wall paintings consist of depictions of saints and angels, along with Biblical scenes.