Greek Church in Bodrum to be restored

Bitez Hürriyet Daily News:  Feburary 10th 2010.  By:  Chris Drum Berkaya (edited by Roving Jay)

Gara Church Bitez

A project has been prepared to restore a 1,800-year-old Greek church located in the popular resort town of Bodrum’s Bitez district.

The Gara Church Bitez is within the boundaries of a tourism facility built by a private firm, NF Construction and Tourism, who are seeking ways to preserve and restore the church, which contains ancient mosaics, with the aim of opening the building to visitors.

According to Dr. Emine Tok of Ege University, the Greek church dates back to the late Roman-early Byzantine era from A.D. 2 to 4, and is of historical archeological and artistic significance.

“The mosaics, especially on the church floor, are the most important and rare kind,” read the report. “It is possible to restore the church and turn it into an asset for tourism. The building will not last long considering its current situation; it should immediately be repaired.”

The 8-meter-tall church, which has a water well, a cistern and water canals, has one prayer room and two living quarters. There is a mosaic on the church floor, believed to have been brought from Egypt. The mosaic contains images of four dolphins and a swordfish, symbols of the religious beliefs of the time.

Architect Ahmet Iğdırlıgil has prepared a plan, titled the “Gara Church Culture and Art Museum,” under which the building will be restored, the mosaics covered with glass and brightened and the church opened for worship if the necessary permission is received.

With the construction of a cafeteria, handcrafts and souvenir stands and a parking lot, the Gara Church could become the second House of the Virgin Mary. Located in İzmir’s Selçuk district, near the ancient city of Ephesus, that site is a very important place for Christians.

Ayşe Doğançay, the president of the Bitez Association of Preserving Cultural and Natural Assets, told the Doğan news agency that the church in its current situation can barely remain standing. The building is officially under protection, but not a single thing has been done to protect it.”

A turning point in cultural tourism

Remzi Güngör, a tour operator from Bodrum, said the 1,800-year-old church should serve the public once again. “To have such a religious location in Bodrum, on land that has hosted hundreds of civilizations, will contribute not only to Bodrum and Bitez, but also be a turning point for cultural tourism efforts in Turkey,” he said. “Such a project will highlight the ties between different cultures and religions, bringing them together, and will attract tourists from many countries, including neighboring Greece.”

Özbaşar noted “At the end, the church can be a pride of the country and help us attract tourists to Bitez.”