Church of Saint Peter

Church near Antakya (Antioch), Turkey

This article is about the church building in present Turkey. For the church in the Vatican City, see St. Peter's Basilica. For other uses, see St. Peter's (disambiguation) and St. Peter's Church (disambiguation).

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Church of Saint Peter" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Church of Saint Peter

St. Pierre Church

Church of Saint Peter

Religion
Affiliation| Oriental Orthodox Church: Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
Leadership| Ignatius Aphrem II Patriarch of Antioch
Patron| Saint Peter
Status| Church Museum
Location
Location| Antakya, Hatay
Country| Turkey

Shown within Turkey

Geographic coordinates| 36°12′34″N 36°10′42″E﻿ / ﻿36.2094°N 36.1783°E﻿ / 36.2094; 36.1783
Architecture
Founder| Apostles as per tradition
Specifications
Width| 9.5 m (31 ft.)
Height (max)| 7 m (23 ft.)
Facade of the Church of St Peter, originally built c. 1100 by Crusades and rebuilt in the 19th century

The Church of Saint Peter (also known as St. Peter's Cave Church and Cave-Church of St. Peter; Classical Syriac: Knisset Mar Semaan Kefa (romanization); Turkish: Aziz Petrus Kilisesi) near Antakya (Antioch), is composed of a cave carved into the mountainside on Mount Starius with a depth of 13 m (42 ft.), a width of 9.5 m (31 ft.) and a height of 7 m (23 ft).[1] The church is not to be mistaken with the former cathedral of Antioch, the church of Cassian which was also called church of St. Peter.[2]

This cave is one of Christianity's oldest churches. The church reportedly is still intact after 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.[3][4]

## History

[edit]

There is no reliable data to date the construction of the church though it is believed that St. Peter preached and laid the foundation for the Christian church of Antioch.[1] The oldest surviving parts of the church building date from at least the 3rd or 4th century; these include some pieces of floor mosaics, and traces of frescoes on the right side of the altar. The tunnel inside which opens to the mountainside is thought to have served the Christians for evacuation of the church in case of sudden raids and attacks. Water which seeps from the nearby rocks was gathered inside to drink and to use for baptism; the flow of this water, which visitors drank and collected to give to those who were ill (believing that the holy spirit would heal and cure the sick through it), has lessened as a result of recent earthquakes.[5] St. Paul is believed to have been baptised here and the water was sought not only by Christians but also Alawites who attributed to the water a beneficent healing virtue.[1]

The church has been also called St. John's grotto, possibly because of John Chrysostom who is believed to have given sermons and performed baptisms here. The side is also identified as such by Wilbrand of Oldenburg who visited it in 1211 and said that it was built over the house of St. Luke the Evangelist.[1]

Crusaders of the First Crusade who captured Antakya in 1098 lengthened the church by a few meters and connected it with two arches to the facade, which they constructed. Acting on orders from Pope Pius IX, Capuchin Friars restored the church and rebuilt the facade in 1863; French Emperor Napoleon III contributed to the restoration. The remains to the left of the entrance belong to colonnades which formerly stood in front of the present facade.

Atop the stone altar in the middle of the church is a stonework platform placed in memory of Saint Peter's Platform Holiday, which was celebrated every 21 February in Antakya. A marble statue of Saint Peter was placed above the altar in 1932.

The garden of the church has been used as a cemetery for hundreds of years. Graves and burials have also been located inside the church, especially around the altar. In the vicinity was also the relics of St Ignatius, the first bishop of Antioch.[1]

The church is a museum today, but it is possible to perform worship services inside the church under the inspection of the Museum Management by obtaining a permit from the Office of the Provincial Governor. The church underwent restoration in 2013, with plans including repairs on the rock, construction of a service building and attempts to uncover fourth to fifth-century mosaics from the church’s early period.[6]

## Images

[edit]

* Churchyard

* Church interior

* Altar

* St Peter's Cave Church Facade

* St Peter's Cave Church Facade

* St Peter's Cave Church Interior

* St Peter's Cave Church Altar area

* St Peter's Cave Church Facade

* St Peter's Cave Church Entrance tunnel

## See also

[edit]

* Oldest churches in the world

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Ray, Celeste (18 February 2020). Sacred Waters: A Cross-Cultural Compendium of Hallowed Springs and Holy Wells. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-02508-8. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
2. ^ Giorgi, Andrea U. De; Eger, A. Asa (30 May 2021). Antioch: A History. Routledge. p. 251\. ISBN 978-1-317-54041-0. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
3. ^ "World's first cave Church in Hatay, Turkiye still intact after major quakes". middleeastmonitor. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
4. ^ Agency, Anadolu (2023-02-21). "World's 1st cave church located in Hatay survives after earthquake". dailysabah. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
5. ^ Clyde E. Fant, Mitchell Glenn Reddish, A guide to biblical sites in Greece and Turkey (Oxford University Press US, 2003), pg. 149
6. ^ Wiener, Noah (8 April 2013). "Restoring the Ancient Cave Church of St. Peter". Biblical Archaeology. Biblical Archaeology Society. Retrieved 21 January 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of Saint Peter.

* Cave Church of St. Pierre
* Church of Antioch
* Antiochian Patriarchate
* All About Turkey: Hatay
* Catholic Encyclopedia: Saint Peter, Prince of Apostles

* v
* t
* e

UNESCO Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey

Aegean
region|

* Aizanoi Antique City
* The Ancient City of Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe
* Ancient City of Stratonikeia
* Archaeological Site of Assos
* Archaeological site of Laodikeia
* Archaeological Site of Priene
* Ayvalık Industrial Landscape
* The Bodrum Castle
* Historic Town of Birgi
* The Historical Port City of Izmir
* Mausoleum and Sacred area of Hecatomnus
* Medieval City of Beçin

Black Sea
region|

* Early Period of Anatolian Turkish Heritage: Niksar, The Capital of Danishmend Dynasty
* Historic Guild Town of Mudurnu
* Kızılırmak Delta Wetland and Bird Sanctuary
* Mount Harşena and the Rock-tombs of the Pontic Kings
* Nature Park of Ballıca Cave
* Sümela Monastery (The Monastery of Virgin Mary)

Central Anatolia
region|

* Archaeological Site of Kültepe-Kanesh
* Basilica Therma (Sarıkaya Roma Hamamı)
* Haci Bayram Mosque and its Surrounding Area (the Haci Bayram District)
* Haci Bektas Veli Complex
* Historic Town of Beypazarı
* Historical Monuments of Niğde
* Ivriz Cultural Landscape
* Konya-A capital of Seljuk Civilization
* Koramaz Valley
* Lake Tuz Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA)
* Odunpazari Historical Urban Site
* Tomb of Ahi Evran

Eastern Anatolia
region|

* Akdamar Church
* Eshab-ı Kehf Kulliye (Islamic-Ottoman Social Complex)
* Historic City of Harput
* Historic Town of Kemaliye
* Ishak Pasha Palace
* The Tombstones of Ahlat the Urartian and Ottoman citadel
* Tushpa/Van Fortress, the Mound and the Old City of Van

Marmara
region|

* The Bridge of Justinian
* The Bridge of Uzunköprü
* Çanakkale (Dardanelles) and Gelibolu (Gallipoli) Battles Zones in the First World War
* İznik
* Nuruosmaniye Complex
* Sultan Bayezid II Complex: A Center of Medical Treatment
* Yıldız Palace Complex

Mediterranean
region|

* Alahan Monastery
* Alanya
* Ancient Cities of Lycian Civilization
* Ancient City of Anazarbos
* Ancient City of Kaunos
* Ancient city of Kibyra
* Ancient City of Korykos
* Archaeological Site of Perge
* Archaeological Site of Sagalassos
* Eflatun Pinar: The Hittite Spring Sanctuary
* Güllük Dagi National Park and Termessos
* Hatay, St. Pierre Church
* Karain Cave
* Karatepe-Aslantaş Archaeological Site
* Kekova
* Mamure Castle
* St. Nicholas Church
* St.Paul Church, Saint Paul's Well and surrounding historic quarters
* The Theatre and Aqueducts of the Ancient City of Aspendos
* Vespasianus Titus Tunnel
* Yesemek Quarry and Sculpture Workshop
* Yivli Minaret Mosque

Southeastern Anatolia
region|

* Archeological Site of Zeugma
* Harran and Şanlıurfa
* Ismail Fakirullah Tomb and its Light Refraction Mechanism
* Late Antique and Medieval Churches and Monasteries of Midyat and Surrounding Area (Tur Abdin)
* The Malabadi Bridge
* Mardin Cultural Landscape
* The Underground Water Structures in Gaziantep; Livas' and Kastels
* Zerzevan Castle and Mithraeum
* Zeynel Abidin Mosque Complex and Mor Yakup (Saint Jacob) Church

Multiple regions|

* Anatolian Seljuks Madrasahs
* Buruciye Medrese
* Cacabey Medrese
* Çifte Medrese
* Çifte Minareli Medrese (Erzurum)
* Çifte Minareli Medrese (Sivas)
* Gök Medrese
* Ince Minaret Medrese
* Karatay Medrese
* Sahabiye Madrasa
* Yakutiye Medrese
* Mountainous Phrygia
* Seljuk Caravanserais on the route from Denizli to Dogubeyazit
* Trading Posts and Fortifications on Genoese Trade Routes from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea
* Akçakoca Castle
* Amasra Castle
* Çandarlı Castle
* Çeşme Castle
* Foça Castle
* Galata Tower
* Güvercinada Castle
* Sinop Fortress
* Yoros Castle

* Turkey portal
* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

Geographic|

* Structurae

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template