Out in the barren hills that back the eastern suburbs of Malatya lies the pinprick village of Venk which is home to the ruins of a small Armenian church. The tourist information office brochure dates it back to the 17th century but rough renovation has left it a soulless, ageless shell of very little interest, the plastered walls of the interior completely covered with graffiti. It’s certainly not worth a special trip unless it’s of particular interest to you.
Venk itself is mildly interesting. In front the of the church there’s a small shrine that a local woman said belonged to an evliya (holy man) named Çerçiş. I suspect it may have been put there to sanctify the spot for Islam since it almost conceals the entrance to the church.
The older women of Venk still wear a local dress with a crown-like headdress covered by a white scarf that is held in place with a brightly-covered twisted scarf-band.
Transport info
To get to Venk from Malatya take any bus heading east along the Çevre Yolu (ring road) and ask the driver to put you off at the junction. Don’t try and walk the 5km to the village as it’s all uphill with no shade. A taxi shouldn’t charge too much if you can find one.
