Kapadokya-EN

Cappadocia, (Kappadokia) Region 60 million years ago; Erciyes, Hasandağı and Güllüdağ’s lava and ashes formed by the soft layers of millions of years by abrasion caused by the wind and abrasion.
The human settlement dates back to the Paleolithic period. The lands inhabited by the Hittites became one of the most important centers of Christianity in later periods. The houses and churches carved into the rocks have made the area a gigantic shelter for Christians fleeing the Roman Empire.
Cappadocia region is a region that is spread to Nevşehir, Kırşehir, Niğde, Aksaray and Kayseri provinces.
Cappadocia region is a place where nature and history are integrated. Geographic events While creating the fairy chimneys, in the historical process, people also carved houses, churches into these fairy chimneys and decorated them with frescoes and carried the traces of thousands of years of civilizations. The written history of Cappadocia, where human settlements date back to the Paleolithic period, begins with the Hittites. Cappadocia is one of the important crossroads of the Silk Road and has built trade colonies throughout the history and established a commercial and social bridge between the countries. With the collapse of the Hittite Empire in the 12th century BC, a dark period began in the region. During this period, the late Hittite kings with Assyrian and Phrygian influences dominated the region. These Kingdoms lasted until the Persian occupation of the 6th century BC. The name of Cappadocia used today means "Land of Beautiful Horses" in Persian language. In 332 BC Alexander the Great defeated the Persians, but in Cappadocia faced great resistance. During this period, the Kingdom of Cappadocia was founded. Towards the end of the 3rd century BC, the power of the Romans began to be felt in the region. In the middle of the 1st century BC, the Cappadocian Kings were appointed and deposed with the power of the Roman generals. A.D. When the last king of Cappadocia died in 17, the region became a province of Rome.
Christians came to Cappadocia in the 3rd century AD and the region became a center of education and thought for them. Between 303 and 308, the pressure on Christians increased. But Cappadocia is an ideal place to avoid oppression and to spread Christian doctrine. Deep valleys and shelters carved from volcanic soft rocks provide a safe area for Roman soldiers.
The 4th century is the period of the people, later called the "Fathers of Cappadocia". But the importance of the region, III. Leon´s culminating in the ban on icons. In the face of this situation, some pro-icon people begin to seek refuge in the region. Iconoclasm movement lasts more than a hundred years (726-843). Although several Cappadocian churches were influenced by Iconoclasm during this period, those who favored the icon easily worshiped here. Cappadocia monasteries developed during this period.
During these periods, Arab invasions began in the Christian regions of Anatolia from Armenia to Cappadocia. People who flee from these raids cause the churches in the region to change their style. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Cappadocia was captured by the Seljuks. During this and subsequent Ottoman times, the region had a smooth period. The last Christians in the region left Cappadocia in 1924-26, leaving behind beautiful examples of architecture.