Trail of St Paul (Part 9)

More pics from Antakya (Antioch on Orontes, Hatay (formerly Alexanderette) province of Turkey. Taken on Day 2 (May 31 - Pentecost Sunday).

Titus' Tunnel at Seleucia Pierea near Antioch-on-Orontes (now Antakya). The tunnel was a tremendous canal dug to divert water from the Orontes River during St Paul's time. Considering that everything had to be done by hand at that time, it was quite an engineering feat. Seleucia Pierea was the port city of Antioch in ancient days from where St Paul set sail for his first missionary journey. Due to siltation, the port was actually a few miles further inland from the present coastline where we visited. So a little bit of imagination was required.

 

Entrance to St Peter' Church in Antioch, also known as St Peter's Grotto. Early meetings of the first Christians of Antioch were held in this cave church so as not to attract the attention of the Roman soldiers who were persecuting them. Inside the 'church' there was a hole for St Peter and his followers including St Paul to escape should the Roman soldiers come looking for them.See what the early Christians had to endure then? And yet nowadays it is not easy to ask young people to go to church! 

 

An aerial view of some old houses in Antakya/Antioch.

 

One of the displays at Hatay Museum, reputed for its large collection of mosaics, tombs, jewelry and other artifacts from around the Hatay Province which includes Antioch since ancient times.

 

The Bell Tower of the Catholic Church in Antioch.