Kursunlu Monastery

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Where is Kursunlu Monastery from Kusadasi?

Kursunlu Monastery is located 32 kms south of Kusadasi.
It is located on a mountanous area, so there are no public transportation to there.
Even with private vehicle one might have diffifcult time to get there. 
4 wheel drive vehicles are the best and will take around 1 hour to drive up to the Monastery.

It is an impressive region where natural beauty and historical richness meet. 
This part of Anatolia has been one of the religious centers as a result of intense Christian migration in the 8th century. 
Priests who escaped from the depression, built up churches and monasteries in this region where they would be able to hide away and worship.

It is not known for sure where the name "Kursunlu Monastery" came from.
 It is supposed that it is a Byzantine form Orthodox monastery belonging to the 11th century. 
The reason of the height is known that its position   prevented   the   attacks   of   Icon-worshipers and Heretics, it was also used to educate.

In the monastery, there are a mess hall, warehouse, kitchen, monk rooms,clinic, chapel,  necropolis (cemetery],   monastery ramparts, rampart cellar and defence rooms.

The main quality of the Chapel's ceiling is the frescoes. 
During the Iconoclastic period symbolist and geometrical motifs; at the second half of the 9th century, after the Iconoclastic period, religious events or people were shown on the frescoes. Fish, rooster and grape are the main religious symbols.

On the frescoes, the pictures were made on a basin or wall. Frescoes are made freely through the ending of the ban on icon-making; also the religious unrestriction due to  the domination of Seljuk State in the 12th century. The subjects were mostly from The Holy  Bible and the life of Jesus Christ.

Kursunlu Monastery served as a religious school and missionary. 
The Chapel is cross planned and has a dome-style.

According  to data from the sacred writings,  St. Mary and St. John came to Ephesus in the year 42. 
This is told in the Bible written by St. John. 
According to the tradition, St. John  wrote this   Bible   for   Ephesus'   people.
It indicates the problems of Ephesus, the questions of the people and the answers to these questions.

 Mary, who let her apostles introduce Jesus to humanity was very fastidious on living in secret. 
So, Ephesus   became   the   sacred religious center of Christianity. 
That is why Selcuk in Ephesus, Scala Nuova(Kusadasi) and their surroundings are very rich with churches and monasteries.
It is an impressive region where natural beauty and historical richness meet. 

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Location

The monastery is located on 600 meters altitude.
The monastery captures the magnificent view of Davutlar-Kusadası and almost hides itself in the hillside.
Especially in the spring; the region is just like a natural hospital where the birds sing, all tones of green color meet the blue sea, flowers smell like heaven, spring waters flow; and Kursunlu Monastery looks like watching Panionion [Guzelcamli), Davutlar, Kusadasi, Ephesus and Samos [Sisam Island) from far away.

The monastery, which is right at the back of Dilek National Park is filled with zoological and botanic richness, waits to be discovered and to serve for tourism, on the Samsun Mountains. 
You feel like going up to Mother Mary's House  at Ephesus while climbing to Kursunlu Monastery. 
Destination is the same, the road is the same and the view is more magnificent. ​

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