THE EPISCOPAL COMPLEX in ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT

At the center of the city, Church 1, Church 3, Funerary Church 22 and Church 14 along with a great number of related residential buildings and cisterns most likely constitute the episcopal complex of Mokissos, which was the seat of an archbishopric and capital of the province of Cappadocia Tertia (Cappadocia III), the eparchia (ecclesiastical province) located to the south of the Halys River (Kızıl Irmak).

The 2023 excavations were carried out in the main church (Church 1) of the Episcopal complex. The church in the east-west direction is a 3-naved basilica. There is a main apse to the east and a small apse to the north of the apse. In the light of today's evidence, it can be said that the Main Church of the Episcopal Complex had 2 phases of use. The first phase is the 6th century when it was built as a basilica with 3 naves. In the second phase, the building was partially filled with soil due to natural factors (probably flood) and was used as a burial church. After this natural disaster, the north and west walls were rebuilt. The northern columns separating the naves were demolished. In this phase, the Episcopal complex in which the church is located must have lost its function.