About
Andaval Church and the Ancient Settlement of Andabalis
Known in historical sources as Andabalis, Adualis, and Ambabalis, Andaval Church is located within an ancient settlement that served as a military garrison during the Late Antique Period. Positioned on the crucial route connecting Istanbul to Cilicia and the Holy Lands, this site held both strategic and religious importance throughout history.
According to legend, Helena, the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, built several churches in the region during her pilgrimage to the Holy Lands in the early 4th century. The Andaval Church, which stands today, was likely constructed either on the site of one of these original churches or nearby at a later period.
Historical and Architectural Features of Andaval Church
🏛 The Evolution of the Church Over Time
• After the Seljuk Turks conquered Anatolia in the 11th century, the church remained a place of worship for the local non-Muslim community.
• At the beginning of the 20th century, the famous researcher H. Rott visited the church and noted that the side aisles had been removed and the spaces between the supporting columns had been walled up.
• In the 1970s, researcher M. Restle discovered that the building had three distinct layers of wall paintings and observed a partially preserved vaulted ceiling