Not far from the village of Nizhny Arkhyz there is a settlement — the remains of a large settlement, possibly the legendary capital of Alanya, Magas.
Houses, outbuildings and temples are attributed to the 12th century. The northern temple is located outside the settlement itself. It is surrounded by other church buildings, which suggests that the northern temple was the cathedral of a Christian settlement. The temple is made of sandstone, has a characteristic shape in the form of a cross. The proportions of the temple are characteristic of Byzantine architecture, but ancient Russian crosses — encolpions were found on the territory.
Ancient Alanya had very close cultural ties with its neighbors. In the temple there is a stone font, where the rite of baptism was held. There are massive stone steps leading to it. Inside, the temple was painted with frescoes, which have not survived to this day, but were still visible in the late 19th century, when the Russian explorer D.M. Strukov
I sketched them.
Divine services on the territory are held 1 time a year, on the day of St. George the Victorious, May 6.
Charitable Foundation Holy Land
Russian Temples and Monasteries
