EARLY BYZANTINE CHURCH 4
This church is located to the north of the Colonnaded
Street and Early Byzantine fortification wall and adjoins the Arched Building
on its south (Fig. 1). The church is accessed from Alley 2 and
comprises a narthex in the west, a naos and an apse in the east (Fig. 2).
The synthronon in the apse has survived partially.
The east-west oriented church measures 16.45x6.05 m
and its ceiling height is 7.12 m (Fig. 3).
The flooring of travertine and brick at the entrance
of the church was laid 30 cm above the Roman period level of Alley 2 and may be
considered an atrium for the church.
On the north wall of the naos are the remains of a
fresco depicting two saints, whose heads have not survived; their right hands
are on the chest. The images are rendered mainly in dark red on cream
background; other colours used are red, yellow, and dark blue. The fresco with
inscription partially exposed in 2012 was uncovered entirely and conserved. The
inscription of twelve lines was rendered in white paint on red background. This
fresco with inscription is dated to the first phase of the church, i.e.
fifth-sixth centuries, while the saint figures on the north wall to the second
phase of the tenth century. In addition, a cross motif was applied in red paint
on the east wall of the narthex.
The
building was first built in the fifth-sixth centuries and remained in use until
the tenth century through various arrangements.