Jason Church & Cape

Rising at the tip of Jason Cape (Yason Burnu), a natural peninsula reaching into the Black Sea within the boundaries of Çaytepe village in the Perşembe district of Ordu, Jason Church is one of the most recognisable stops on Eastern Black Sea coastal tours.

History & Significance

The site takes its name from Iason (Jason), the hero of the Argonaut legend who sailed to Colchis (present-day western Georgia) in search of the Golden Fleece; according to tradition the Argonauts came ashore on this very cape. The stone church standing today bears the date 1868 on the inscription above its western entrance and was built by the Greeks living in the region as a Greek Orthodox church (the Panagia Church) dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After the Turkey-Greece population exchange the Greek congregation left the area, the church lost its worshippers and fell into disrepair for many years; in 2004 it was comprehensively restored in keeping with its original form and opened to visitors.

Architecture & Nature

Architecturally it is a rectangular-plan basilica with three naves and three apses, built of dark grey cut stone accented here and there with lighter stones. Inside, six columns arranged in two rows divide the space into three sections, the central nave being wider than the flanking ones, and a small dome, completely renewed in 2004, crowns the central nave; a larger eastern portal with relief decoration and a plainer southern door form the two entrances. The setting is as striking as the building itself: waves breaking against the headland, a pebble beach running along the shore, a lighthouse, the 'False Jason' cape 300 metres to the west and ancient rock-cut fish ponds all greet visitors, in a district that enjoys roughly 320 sunny days a year.

Visiting, Access & Tips

Agencies favour this stop because it is both easily accessible and highly photogenic, slotting naturally into day tours along the Ordu-Perşembe-Fatsa coastal line. The average visit lasts 45-60 minutes. The church lies 35 km from Ordu city centre, 20 km from Perşembe and 42 km from Ordu-Giresun Airport, reached via the Bolaman-Efirli coastal road. The cape has an organised car park that accommodates tour coaches, together with a cafeteria and viewing areas. Because the ground is stony and gently sloping, wheelchair access is partly limited and a short walk separates the car park from the church. The best time to visit is May to September, with July and August the peak season, while late-afternoon light is ideal for sunset photography. A recommended route is the Ordu Boztepe cable car, then on via Perşembe to Jason Cape and Church, and optionally toward the Çambaşı highlands.