The First Cave Church In The World St. Pierre Church, located on the western slope of Stauris Mountain on the route between Antakya and Reyhanli, is widely accepted as the first cave church in the world. St. Pierre, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, attempted to spread Christianity in this church between AD 29-40. The name 'Christian' was first given to a community in this church during religious gatherings, making St. Pierre Church one of the earliest Christian churches. In 1963, Paul Pope VI declared St. Pierre Church as a place of pilgrimage. Annually on June 29th, the Catholic Church holds a ceremony at this church. The Journey From Cave To Church Originally a natural cave, the building was later converted into a church. The Crusaders added a Gothic-style facade in the 12th and 13th centuries. The base of the cave contains mosaic remains from the 4th and 5th centuries. The church features an altar, a small marble statue of St. Nicholas within a niche, holy water, and a tunnel for the congregation to escape in case of an attack. St. Pierre Church attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists every year. While You Are Here… St. Simeon Monastery, built in the 5th century AD, is an important archaeological site located in the rural area of Aknehir under the administration of Samandağ. The Monastery, situated in a beautiful rural landscape, was where St. Simeon, the founder of the “Sect of the Stylites” in Late Antiquity, led religious rituals and retired into seclusion.
ST. PIERRE CHURCH
