Helvadere is a town (belde) and municipality in the Aksaray District, Aksaray Province, Turkey.[1] Its population is 2,564 (2021).[2]

Helvadere
Helvadere Kasabası
Helvadere Kasabası
Helvadere is located in Turkey
Helvadere
Helvadere
Location in Turkey
Helvadere is located in Turkey Central Anatolia
Helvadere
Helvadere
Helvadere (Turkey Central Anatolia)
Coordinates: 38°12′N 34°12′E / 38.200°N 34.200°E / 38.200; 34.200
CountryTurkey
ProvinceAksaray
DistrictAksaray
Elevation
1,340 m (4,400 ft)
Population
 (2021)
2,564
Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)
Area code0382

Geography

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Helvadere is on the western slopes of Mount Hasan at about 1,350 m (4,430 ft). It is 30 km (19 mi) south of Aksaray.

History

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The Yenii Camii, (New Mosque), sometimes called Kilise Camii, and formerly known as (“Agios Nikolaos”) Saint Nicholas Church.

Helvadere is situated next to ruins of the ancient town Nora, which was an important town in Hellenistic Capadocia. Helvadere was also named Mokissos and Justinianopolis (named after Justinian) in antiquity. Eventually, the town lost its former importance and in the Middle Ages it was a small village named Hardaldere. Evliya Çelebi in his Seyahatname describes hardaldere as a village of 65 houses; the majority of the population being Turk, but also with a Greek minority. In the early 20th century, the name was Halvadara. But in 1968 Halvadara was declared a town named Helvadere.[3]

Economy

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Helvadere is a typical agricultural town. Potato, apple and cherry are among the more important crops. Some members of the town work in western Europe as industrial workers (gastarbeiter) and they also contribute to the town's economy.

Churches

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  • Yardıbaş Kilise
  • Süt Kilise, “Milk church"
  • Bozboyun Kilise, "Gray neck church".
  • Çukurkent Kilisesi, "Pit city church"
  • Tepe Kilisesi, "Hill church"
  • Sarıgöl Kilisesi, "Yellow lake church"
  • Kale Kilisesi, "Castle Church"
  • Kara Kilise "Dark Church"

The ruins of Karahan (Eshab-ı Kefh Han) from the Seljuks period is also located in Mokissos.

References

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  1. ^ Belde, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2021" (XLS) (in Turkish). TÜİK. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Mayor's page". Archived from the original on 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2010-06-30.