The ruins in Zelve in Cappadocia, Turkey located are in three adjacent valleys. The area was an important religious site between the 9th and 13th centuries. It was a time when the first seminaries educating priests of the Eastern Orthodox Church were established here.
The rock dwellings in Zelve had various functions. Wine and bulgur (cracked wheat) were produced there. The churches here have simple interiors. They are decorated mainly with high relief crosses and a limited amount of painted elements.
The rock called the monastery in Zelve has an impressive natural large vault. It contains four levels with many spaces carved into the rock and narrow tunnels. The lower levels were actually used as stables, and the upper ones contain rooms for religious and residential purposes.
