| The definitive study of these figures was published by Guillaume de Jerphanion early in the twentieth century (1). When he visited the church over three days in 1911 and 1912 it was being used as a dovecote. Jerphanion produced a two-volume book containing detailed descriptions of this and other churches in the region, with one volume of text, the other devoted to a full description of the churches and all their murals. |
| References: 1. de Jephanion, G. Les Eglises Rupestres de Cappadoce Librarie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner. Paris,1932 |
| Nikephoros II Phokas with the members of his court |
| The Dovecote Church, Cavusin. The remains of the two angels mentioned by Jerphanion can be seen to the right of the entrance. |
| The "Dovecote" Church |
| A very small rectangular church with a barrel vaulted roof, it contains seventeen representations of military saints dating to the reign of Nikephoros II Phokas (963-969 AD) whose image appears in one of the sub-apses. |
| One of the major themes shown in the murals is the forty martyrs of Sebaste. Among these are at least seventeen military figures, not counting those shown in the Crucifixion and the Massacre of the Innocents. It is thought that the military figures may represent donors to the Church. |
| The Military Saints |
| (Most recently updated 22 Feb 2002) |
 |
 |