Christian religious architecture in Ordu province

Located in the Black Sea Region, the province of Ordu stands out with its deep-rooted history dating back to prehistoric times. Throughout this historical process, the city center and its affiliated districts have hosted various ethnic and cultural communities during different periods. One of these communities was the Christian population, which maintained a presence in the region for many years. This study examines the Christian religious structures within the borders of Ordu province from both historical and architectural perspectives. As a result of fieldwork, a total of 21 churches were identified across seven different districts. These structures were documented and analyzed within the framework of Art History. Among the examined buildings are examples dating from the early Christian period, the Byzantine era, the era of the Empire of Trebizond, and the late Ottoman period, reflecting the multi-layered historical background of the region. In the chapels and churches of Ordu, various architectural plans were observed, including the three-nave basilical plan, single-nave plan, domed basilical plan, free cross plan, octagonal plan, and closed Greek cross plan. Among the examined structures, only one was designed as a rock-cut church, and due to its current condition, the plan of one building could not be determined. While some of these structures have previously been the subject of various studies, it was observed that others have not been academically studied. In this context, our study is significant in that it addresses both previously researched and undocumented structures in a comprehensive manner, aiming to analyze them historically and reveal their architectural characteristics within the discipline of Art History