A Study on Conservation of Church Buildings in Turkey: The Example of Yalova/Esenköy Azize Paraskevi Church

Abstract

Turkey, with its strategic location and deep-rooted past, has been a settlement area that has attracted the attention of many civilizations in the process that has reached the present day. In many parts of Anatolia, great civilizations ruled and artifacts reflecting the cultural characteristics of the period remained. At the forefront of these works are the places of worship that date back to almost as old as the history of humanity. Worship has been considered as a vital need for humanity since ancient times. In this context, the act of worshiping continued for many years, both in the open area and inside the structures designed and built specifically for the faith. Although each belief brings its own requirements in terms of places of worship, it is possible to state that there are many common points, especially in terms of architecture. In this sense, the documentation and examination of the worship structures that have survived from the past and stand out with their qualities worth conserving are also of great importance in terms of providing inspiration for the designs of the places of worship that will be built in the future. The aim of the study is to examine the conservation status of church buildings, which are widely seen all over the world and have important examples in Turkey, and in this context; To contribute to the conservation of Esenköy Azize Paraskevi Church, about which there is not enough information in the literature. Within the scope of the study, various church structures in Turkey that are under conservation were examined in the light of the relevant literature. Then, the present situation of the Esenköy Azize Paraskevi church was discussed and evaluations were made on the state of conservation. The study method consists of examining the sources and on-site observations. As a result, it is thought that the study will draw attention to the problems of church buildings in Turkey in the context of the conservation of all worship buildings and the importance of Esenköy Azize Paraskevi Church in terms of conservation.