Church of Saint Pierre

A cave known today as the Grotto of St Peter or Church of Saint Pierre is believed to be where the Apostle Peter preached when he lived in Antioch (tradition dating his residence to the years 47 - 54 AD) and is considered to be one of the earliest Christian houses of worship and dedicated to St. Peter. A narrow tunnel winds from the church through the side of the hill and away from the town. Presumably it was an escape route. This grotto-church, located on the Antakya-Reyhanli road, is as sacred for the Christian world as are the cities of Rome or Jarusalem and it is the only structure to have survived from the earliest period of Christianity when the new faith had begun to spread. In 1963, the papacy designated the site as a place of pilgrimage and also recognized it as the world's first cathedral. Every year on June 29th (the feast day of saints Peter and Paul), a special service is conducted at the Church of St Peter that is attended by Christians and clergymen from all over the world.