Derevenk

The name Derevenk is derived from the Turkish word “dere” (river) and the Armenian word “vank” (monastery). Therefore, the “-venk” element in “Derevenk” likely originates from the Sergis Rock Monastery located in the village. The village was located just northeast of Talas and had a population of 310 Armenians. All the facades of the village’s buildings were constructed of cut stone. Some of the Derevenk Armenians trace their ancestry to Armenians who migrated to Sivas during the reign of King Senekerim Ardzruni. The villagers were generally known for their stonemasonry, and many migrated to Istanbul for work. A significant turning point in the village’s history was the earthquake of 1835. Following this earthquake, a significant portion of the Armenians left the village and migrated to Istanbul, settling particularly in the Bağlarbaşı district. Thus, Derevenk’s legacy of stonemasonry and craftsmanship was carried over into architectural activities in Istanbul.

The most prominent figure who comes to mind when the name Derevenk is Merametçi Bali Kalfa (also known as Keresteci Usta Bali in some sources; this name also appears on the inscription in the Bağlarbaşı Armenian Cemetery), who served for many years as the imperial architect in the Ottoman palace. His descendants, the renowned Balyan family, are considered one of the most established dynasties in Ottoman architectural history.

There are two different stories about the arrival of Bali Kalfa, who is considered the ancestor of the family, to Istanbul: According to one view, he came from the village of Derevenk for economic reasons; according to the other, he came from the town of Bali in Kahramanmaraş.

During the reign of Mehmet IV (1648–1687), Bali Kalfa, whose talent was recognized, entered the palace service and, as a “merametçi,” worked on stonemasonry and water structures, becoming part of the Imperial Architecture Department. His sons and grandsons gained fame as the most brilliant architectural family in the Ottoman Empire, serving as the palace’s chief architects in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Balyan family, who created many monumental structures such as the Dolmabahçe, Çırağan, and Beylerbeyi palaces, left an indelible mark on Ottoman architectural history as a dynasty of architects whose ancestry is linked to the Derevenk family.

Today, nothing remains of the village settlement except a few ruins and some structures such as rock-carved monasteries.

Group: Settlement

Type: Village

Century: 17th century

Geography: Kayseri, Talas, Turkey

Latitude: 38.689238746723, Longitude: 35.582360879337

Alternative names:

Contributed by: Culture Inventory