In Hatay, the world’s first cave church, St. Saints Peter and Paul Feast celebrations were held at St. Pierre Church. The church is located at the foot of Habibi Neccar Mountain in the Antakya district and is one of the oldest churches of Christianity.
The ceremony held in Antakya’s historical St. Pierre Church was attended by the Patriarch of Antakya and All Eastern Orthodoxy Tenth John Bereketi, Abbot of Lebanon’s St. Elijah Monastery Bishop Kostantin Kayyal and the Fathers of Hatay and Mersin Greek Orthodox Churches. The ceremony was accompanied by prayers and hymns.
St. Pierre Church was built by Pope VI in 1983. It was declared a place of pilgrimage for Christians by Paul and special ceremonies are held by the Catholic Church every year on June 29.
Speaking during the ceremony, Latin Catholic Church Bishop Antuan Ilgıt praised Antakya’s religious freedom and peaceful coexistence. Ilgit said, “Antakya continues to protect its religion in a clear way where everyone can practice their religion freely. Likewise, it is another beautiful situation that civil and religious authorities live in peace.”
