Syriac Ancient Virgin Mary Church
It is located to the east of Harput Castle. Since the western wall is formed by the rock masses of the castle, the church seems to be buried in the rocks of the castle. The Church of the Virgin Mary, which is one of the oldest temples in Anatolia, is also known as the Red Church, the Syriac Church and the Yakubi Church. It is thought that the building, which is thought to have been built in 179 AD, was first used by the pagans in the castle to hide idols, and that the Jacobite Christians later turned it into a church. The church, measuring approximately 20x8 meters, is located on a high rock to the east of Harput and near the northeast corner of the castle. The church consists of four parts. The sarcophagus in the first section and its monolithic stone cover with the Syriac inscription on it, and the wall in the form of a wishing stone wall in the second section, on which small stones are attached by making a wish, are remarkable. The third part, which is the ritual part, and the fourth part, which consists of two symmetrical rooms, are the other parts of the church. The Church of the Virgin Mary, whose wall in the west is completely rock, is one of our most important ancient churches that have survived to the present day and is one of the important cultural heritages not only of our country but of the world. This church is M.S. It was repaired in 1135, 1179 and 1262.
