Carikli Church (Goreme)

The church is located inside Goreme Open Air Museum.

Christ Pantocrator, Goreme Open Air Museum by tomkirby

The name „crackle church“is assumed to be given because of the foot prints that are found under the depiction of the ascension of Jesus to the sky. The church is dated to be constructed at the late 12th century and early 13th century. The Cycles subjecting the life of Jesus, The Pentateuch scene displaying the hospitability of Prophet İbrahim and the depictions of Saint Bani are well preserved. Although looks similar to the Elmalı and Karanlık (Dark) Church, the scenes depicting the walking of Jesus to the Crucifixion and the scene depicting the taking of Jesus from the cross are the different properties of the church.

The depictions of the birth, the worship of the three astrologers, the baptism, the resurrection of Lazarus, metamorphism, the voyage to Jerusalem, the treachery, the women following the gray tomb, the ascend of Jesus to the sky and Saints are present in the church.

It has two columns (other columns are in the form of the parts of the wall corners), it is cross vaulted, it has three absissae and four domes. In the scenes, the syclus representing the life of Christ, the Torah scene showing the hospitality of the Prophet Abraham, the saint and the bani representations are well - protected. It is similar to the Elmalı and the Karanlık Churches, however the scenes of the crucification of Christ and taking Christ from the cross are the different features of the church. The figures are generally big and long.

It is thought that the church is named as "The Carikli Church" because of the footprints below the scene of Christ's rising to the sky. The church is dated to the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century.

In the middle of the main dome, Pantokrator Christ and angel busts in medallions are located. Furthermore, the representation of the Deesis on the main abscissa, Mary and child Christ on the northern abscissa and Angel Micheal on the southern abscissa are pictured.

The Scenes: the birth, the worship of three astrologers, the baptism, the resurrection of Lazarus, the conversion, the entrance to Jerusalem, the betrayal, women in front of an empty grave, Christ's rising to the sky and saint representations.