The architecture and wallpaintings of Balıklı and Üzümlü Church at Zelve Open Air Museum

In this study, the architecture and the wall paintings of Balıklı and Üzümlü Church at Zelve Open Air Museum -located in Avanos, the province of Nevşehir- has been searched. The church consists of two parallel rectangular naves and an additional chapel in south in which just a man can pray. The fact that the churches that had been carved in the valley do not include any wall paintings is an important feature in terms of defining the valley and the churches. It has been known that the iconoclasts, who thought the rise of interest in icons was a problematical way of worshipping, prefer to use some symbolic images such as cross, fish, sheep and plant-based, geometrical motifs since the early times. After Leon III became the ruler, the iconoclast reformation was enforced in 726/730, and it turned out to be an offical policy within the frontiers of the empire which had been experiencing its unsteady times. The most characteristic feature of the churches which have been dated to that period is the rich depiction of cross, plant-based, geometrical motifs and symbolic animal figures and one cannot see the depictions of Jesus Christ, Mary and Bible scenes on the wall-paintings of these churches. Although the images of cross, fish and plant-based, geometrical motifs in Balıklı and Üzümlü Church reflect the idea of iconoclasm, the researchers insist on the existence of Christians who were opposed to the icons in the valley during preiconoclasm. The church, the wall-paintings of which were changed after iconoclasm, is also unique within the churches of Zelve Valley. Key words: Zelve, fish, cross, grape, Byzantium, pre-iconoclasm, iconoclasm