1,600-Year-Old Saint George Church in Diyarbakır Reopens as Art Gallery After Earthquake Restoration

In Diyarbakır’s historic İçkale district, the 1,600-year-old Saint George Church has risen again after suffering severe damage in the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023. Originally built in the 4th century CE by the Romans as an administrative church, the structure will reopen on August 10 as an art gallery.

The restoration, led by the Diyarbakır Directorate of Surveying and Monuments under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, included a striking architectural intervention. To protect the ancient building from rain, snow, and temperature fluctuations, a transparent dome measuring 14 meters in diameter and 40 meters in circumference was installed over the long-collapsed roof, which had remained open for nearly a century.

Diyarbakır Museum Director Müjdat Gizligöl highlighted the church’s significance within the city’s fortified complex:
“Saint George Church stands between bastions 74 and 75 inside İçkale, surrounded by 14 registered monuments. The earthquake caused structural cracks and collapses in the walls. We immediately launched restoration works, and today we are proud to return this heritage site to the public. Just as before, the church will continue to function as an art gallery and exhibition hall.”

Located at the northeastern corner of Diyarbakır’s historic citadel, the church embodies both resilience and cultural continuity. Its reopening as a gallery symbolizes the revival of the city’s heritage in the aftermath of one of Türkiye’s most destructive earthquakes.