Church of the Virgin Mary

The church is also known as the Red Church, Syriac Church, or Jacobite Church. According to an inscription, it was built in 179 AD; some sources state that the structure was first used by pagans in the castle to store idols, and later Jacobite Christians converted it into a church. The western wall is not an independent construction, but directly part of the rock mass of Harput Castle, which makes the structure appear as part of the rock. The interior, consisting of four sections, contains a sarcophagus with Syriac inscriptions, a wishing stone wall, a worship area, and two symmetrical rooms.

This is the most controversial aspect of the church. Many visitors in Google reviews state that the door is locked and they can only reach the courtyard. One comment mentions past damage to the mosaics, suggesting this as the reason for the church being kept closed. Even some commentators who have lived in Elazığ for a long time state that they have never been able to enter. Plan your visit knowing that entry is not guaranteed; if your goal is only to see the exterior and courtyard, you will not have a problem.

The distance from Elazığ city center to Harput is 7 km. By public transport, bus line 23 goes to Harput; the walk from the Harput stop to the church takes 12 minutes. If you are going by your own car, you can park around Harput Castle and follow the stair-pathed trail that descends from the left side of the castle, you will reach the church's courtyard at the turn of the bend.

The church is a natural part of a Harput Castle tour. As you walk around the castle, heading east, it appears on a high rock near the northeast corner. In Harput, it can be included in a single walking route along with the Grand Mosque, Arap Baba Tomb, and the castle walls.

To see only the exterior and courtyard, 15-20 minutes is sufficient. If you have the chance to enter, add another 10 minutes to explore the four sections. If you are touring all of Harput (castle, mosque, tomb), you can include the church as a 30-minute stop on this route.

Photographing the west wall embedded in the rock from the upper part of the castle, at a slight distance, better shows the structure's integration with the rock. Inside the courtyard, the protruding apse and other rubble stone walls also provide interesting shots.

An interesting detail mentioned by those who could enter: in the second section, there is a wall where visitors make wishes and stick small stones. This shows that people of different faiths see the church not only as a historical structure but also as a place for making wishes. It is also mentioned in sources that a liturgy affiliated with the Adıyaman Metropolitanate is held on August 15th.