Work has begun to bring the 2,000-year-old historical Gara Chapel, located in the Bodrum district of Muğla, into cultural tourism.
71 year old Fırat Özbaşar, the owner of the chapel, the contractor and business person, stated that he received intense requests from about 5 thousand foreigners living in Bodrum for the historical place belonging to the Late Roman Early Byzantine Period, which coincides with the second and fourth centuries A.D. With the arrangements to be made, “Those who sit in a small cafe in the garden in the shadow of history and drink their tea will travel back 2,000 years. Our aim is to serve cultural tourism and worship,” he said.
1850 YEARS OLD MOSAICS LIKE FURNISHED TODAY
Özbaşar stated that Gara Chapel had already attracted great interest and gave the following information:
“The mosaics are important in this chapel.” In the report given by the Lecturer of Ege University Faculty of Literature and Art History Department Emine Tok, the history of the mosaics coincides with the 1850 years of Late Roman-Early Byzantine period. “The building was demolished over time and rebuilt. It has a history of 400-500 years. In fact, the section facing the east was destroyed in the 2017 earthquake. I had it restored with the support of the Ministry of Culture. I finished the restoration by spending about 200 thousand dollars. Afterwards, we made small steps such as making the railings of the well and protecting the chapel. We have made our applications to the Ministry and Bodrum Municipality, and we are waiting for the results.”
”WE WANT TO BRING IT IN BOTH CULTURAL TOURISM AND WORSHIP”
“This place is like a small Church of the Virgin Mary” said Özbaşar, noting that it is legally forbidden to have a priest in the chapel, and continued: “But we want anyone who wants to come and do their religious duties. Even now, there are people who light candles and pray outside. They want to worship but cannot enter. If this place serves as a cafe, it will be maintained and those who want to worship can do their prayers. There is a group called the Herodotus Group in Bodrum and they are asking me to “make this a place where non-Muslims can both worship and have a pleasant time like a cafe. I also try to fulfill their wishes. If we can landscape this place and put it into service, Bitez will win, Bodrum will win and also the operators will win. Because over 5,000 non-Muslims live here. They and I both want this place to be put into service.”
Stating that the Greek chapel is one of the most important and unique remains in terms of culture, archeology and art history, Özbaşar said, “I have dedicated an important part of my life to this place. I want to bring this place to tourism. There are many churches and chapels in the area, but this is the best preserved. This chapel is like my son. I hope my life is enough to see the result” he said.
Gara Chapel is located on two acres of land among tangerine and olive trees. The building, which there is a water well, a water cistern, water channels beside it, and consists of a prayer room, and two small living rooms, draws attention with its 8 meters height. The mosaic stones brought from Egypt, 4 dolphins and a swordfish, and the mosaics with the “Swastika” motif, symbolizing the religious characteristics of the period, have been preserved to this day. (Cumhuriyet)
