The Church of the Archangels: A Byzantine Christian Church in Türkiye
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Turkey
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Byzantine
- Site type
- Religious
- Remains
- Church
History
The Church of the Archangels is a Byzantine Christian church in Türkiye, located in the Kumyaka area of Mudanya. Built by the Byzantine Empire around 780, it belongs to the architectural tradition of the Eastern Roman Empire and is affiliated with Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a major Christian tradition organized through patriarchates and other episcopal institutions.
Construction was completed between 780 and 797 during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Constantine VI Porphyrogenitus, who ruled from 780 to 797. The building later underwent major repairs and became known locally as the Kumyaka Church.
In 2012, a businessman sold the church to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople. The patriarchate then visited the village, fitted a door to the ruined building, and left a key with the village headman for people wishing to enter before restoration began. Restoration started in 2016 with support from the Bursa Directorate of Museums. The church is currently closed, although Greek Orthodox residents visit it twice a year for feast days and Easter.
Remains
The church has a square plan centered beneath a dome. Its walls combine brick and stone, while barrel-vaulted additions on the sides extend the plan into a cross shape. The building was in a ruined condition before restoration began, and it is identified as a Byzantine architectural monument.
