An Evaluation of Sacred Place Names Between Türkeli and Ayancık in Terms of Religious Structures

Authors : Durmus Gur, Cahit Karakök

Pages : 28-39

View : 37 | Download : 229

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Other Papers

Abstract :Located in the Western Black Sea Region, the districts of Türkeli and Ayancık are situated to the west of Sinop along the Black Sea coast. Some of the place names between these two districts are believed to be associated with sacred figures from the Byzantine/Post-Byzantine period. Historical maps, portolans, archival documents, and scholarly studies reveal that the names of these settlements have either been entirely altered or modified over time, preserving their presence to the present day. The partial preservation of names such as Türkeli, Hamamlı (St. Anthonios), Türkeli Akbudak/Ayvasıl (St. Basileios), and Ayancık, Çaylıoğlu (St. Stephanos) from west to east strengthens the possibility of religious structures bearing the same names in these places. Apart from the Michael Arkhangelos/Archangels Church located in Ayancık\\\'s center, the Byzantine and Post- Byzantine religious structures in settlements named after sacred figures between the Ayancık and Türkeli districts have not survived to the present day. Among these settlements, only one of the churches known to have existed in Türkeli, Hamamlı (Ayandon), Türkeli, Güzelkent (Helaldı), Ayancık, Çaylıoğlu (İstefan), and Ayancık\\\'s central area has survived to the present. Despite this, the preservation of these names in scientific sources, along with the names of Akbudak Village (Ayvasıl), Ayaz Village, Hatip Village, and the intersection named Baliyös (Basileios) between Hatip and Taşgüney villages in Türkeli, have been examined and evaluated within the scope of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine religious architecture.
Keywords : Ayancık, Azizler, Güzelkent, Kilise, Sinop.

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