Summary
Architect Buse Ceren Gul aims to restore a 166-year-old Greek Orthodox church in Antakya, Turkey. After a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in February 2023 destroyed much of the historical town center and hundreds of thousands of buildings across Turkey, including part of Saray Avenue—a hub for Christians, Muslims, and Jews—Gul’s team has partially uncovered St. Paul’s Church from rubble up to 16 feet high. The church, belonging to an Arabic-speaking community, was completely rebuilt in 1900 after a previous earthquake destroyed it in 1872. Gul worked on the rebuilding plans before the quakes and now relies on support from the World Monuments Fund for her team’s efforts to clear rubble and plan reconstruction. Antakya, known as Antioch in medieval times and dating back to the sixth century B.C., is a biblical city that has weathered at least five earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher since A.D. 115, with its diverse communities surviving each devastating event. The current efforts face funding challenges but aim to preserve Antakya’s rich history.
Key Topics
Antakya, Turkey, St. Paul’s Church
