Many Bibles and icons found under the debris of collapsed church in Hatay

Photos: AA

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The Disaster Region Excavation teams found eleven religious icons, historical books including Bibles, and other valuable cultural property under the debris of the Antakya Greek Orthodox Church on Hatay Hürriyet Avenue.

Excavation teams were established by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in order to save the cultural property under the debris of registered historical buildings that collapsed in the February 6 earthquakes.

The Antakya Greek Orthodox Church was first constructed with wood in 1833 during the reign of Bilad al-Sham with the permission of İbrahim Pasha, son of Mohammed Ali. The church which was ruined in the 1872 earthquake and was rebuilt collapsed totally on February 6. 

Liturgical materials 

The teams were able to save Bibles and some liturgical materials (furniture and objects that have symbolic meaning in religious rites) besides the icons. 

Muhammet Arslan, the head of the Excavations in the Earthquake-hit Area told Anadolu Agency that the Antakya Greek Orthodox Church in Hatay had completely collapsed in the earthquake. 

Descriptions of important scenes

Arslan explained that some icons were saved from under debris describing important scenes such as the rising of Mary, entrance to Jerusalem, baptism of Jesus, and Christ Pantacrator. 

"We were able to save candles, other liturgical materials, and many religious books, and most importantly a handwritten Bible from under the debris. We are cleaning and documenting all in the temporary excavation house that we have set up and then these will be handed over to the related people through the Hatay Archeology Museum," Arslan informed. 

(TY/PE)