The Church of Saint Clement (Aziz Klemens Kilisesi) is located in the Altındağ district of Ankara. It was built in the 4th century and dedicated to Saint Clement, the bishop of the city of Ancyra at that time. Although it is known that other churches, monasteries and cathedrals were built in different years during the Eastern Roman period, it is considered the only Byzantine church in Ankara because it is the only example that has survived to the present day. The only remaining parts of the building, which was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period but was completely abandoned after it burned down during the Ankara Fire in 1916, are one wall and a marble block with a Latin cross. The horizontal arms of the cross have been removed. A few saved column capitals and window frames are exhibited in the Roman Bath Open Air Museum. Today the church is in danger of completely disappearing.
History
In 312, Saint Clement was beheaded by a Roman soldier during the Divine Liturgy with his assistant Agathangelos and two deacons. Following this incident, a church was built for Saint Clement, who was declared a Saint by the Orthodox Church, and named it after him. He is commemorated on January 23rd.
The church remained standing until Anatolia came under Turkish rule. In 1458, when Sultan Murad II was on the throne, it was converted into a mosque by Ahmed bin Hızır Yeğen Bey. The building, which was used as a Muslim temple for centuries, was abandoned after it was largely destroyed in the Ankara Fire of 1916. The church, which was not used during the Republican period, was lost among the many new buildings built around it and lost most of its physical existence. The building was registered with the decision numbered 2167 taken by the Supreme Council of Real Estate, Antiquities and Monuments on April 12, 1980.
Architecture
The structure resembles the closed Greek cross-plan churches built during the Byzantine iconoclasm period rather than the domed basilica models frequently used in traditional Roman architecture. However, since the original project also included naves, there are points where it differs from such churches. In this context, it can be said that the structure is a work of a transitional period.
Although brick was used as the main material, some parts were built with rubble stone. When old drawings are examined, it is seen that there is a three-part narthex on the west facade and that it is covered with a barrel vault. It is thought that the entrance to the building was provided through a door opening to the middle section of this narthex. It is observed that there is a dome consisting of twelve concave sections and shaped like a seashell on the area remaining at the intersection of the naves. Pendentives and squinches were used as transition elements to the dome. The gallery floor is carried by two rectangular marble piers. Although it is known that a minaret was added to the building during the Ottoman period and it was converted into a mosque and a madrasah was built next to it, nothing has survived to the present day as everything related to these changes was destroyed by fire in 1916.
Visiting
The only church in Ankara from the Byzantine period, Saint Clements Church is located next to the old courthouse, behind the Aydoğan Inn numbered 63 on Anafartalar Street, among the current structures. Some ruins of the structure can be reached through a small door that opens to the back courtyard by passing through the door of the inn. Unfortunately, the remains of the Church of Saint Clement, the only Byzantine heritage in Ankara, cannot be visited today. This historic building has been lost among the surrounding buildings and its access has become impossible.
History
In 312, Saint Clement was beheaded by a Roman soldier during the Divine Liturgy with his assistant Agathangelos and two deacons. Following this incident, a church was built for Saint Clement, who was declared a Saint by the Orthodox Church, and named it after him. He is commemorated on January 23rd.
The church remained standing until Anatolia came under Turkish rule. In 1458, when Sultan Murad II was on the throne, it was converted into a mosque by Ahmed bin Hızır Yeğen Bey. The building, which was used as a Muslim temple for centuries, was abandoned after it was largely destroyed in the Ankara Fire of 1916. The church, which was not used during the Republican period, was lost among the many new buildings built around it and lost most of its physical existence. The building was registered with the decision numbered 2167 taken by the Supreme Council of Real Estate, Antiquities and Monuments on April 12, 1980.
Architecture
The structure resembles the closed Greek cross-plan churches built during the Byzantine iconoclasm period rather than the domed basilica models frequently used in traditional Roman architecture. However, since the original project also included naves, there are points where it differs from such churches. In this context, it can be said that the structure is a work of a transitional period.
Although brick was used as the main material, some parts were built with rubble stone. When old drawings are examined, it is seen that there is a three-part narthex on the west facade and that it is covered with a barrel vault. It is thought that the entrance to the building was provided through a door opening to the middle section of this narthex. It is observed that there is a dome consisting of twelve concave sections and shaped like a seashell on the area remaining at the intersection of the naves. Pendentives and squinches were used as transition elements to the dome. The gallery floor is carried by two rectangular marble piers. Although it is known that a minaret was added to the building during the Ottoman period and it was converted into a mosque and a madrasah was built next to it, nothing has survived to the present day as everything related to these changes was destroyed by fire in 1916.
Visiting
The only church in Ankara from the Byzantine period, Saint Clements Church is located next to the old courthouse, behind the Aydoğan Inn numbered 63 on Anafartalar Street, among the current structures. Some ruins of the structure can be reached through a small door that opens to the back courtyard by passing through the door of the inn. Unfortunately, the remains of the Church of Saint Clement, the only Byzantine heritage in Ankara, cannot be visited today. This historic building has been lost among the surrounding buildings and its access has become impossible.
Sketch by Charles Texier from 1839.
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| Old photo when the church as a mosque still had a minaret. |
