Church of Saint Peter

Church of Saint Peter
St. Pierre Church
Church of Saint Peter
Religion
AffiliationOriental Orthodox Church: Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
LeadershipIgnatius Aphrem II Patriarch of Antioch
PatronSaint Peter
StatusChurch Museum
Location
LocationAntakya, Hatay, Turkey
CountryTurkey
Church of Saint Peter is located in Turkey
Church of Saint Peter
Shown within Turkey
Geographic coordinates36°12′34″N 36°10′42″E / 36.2094°N 36.1783°E / 36.2094; 36.1783
Architecture
FounderApostles as per tradition
Specifications
Width9.5 m (31 ft.)
Height (max)7 m (23 ft.)
Facade of the Church of St Peter, originally built ca. 1100 by Crusaders 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), Turkey, 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]

  1. ^ 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.