Christmas Liturgy Held at the World’s Oldest Cave Church in Antakya

A Christmas liturgy was held at Saint Pierre Church, a site widely regarded as the world’s oldest cave church and one of the most important landmarks of early Christianity. Located on the slopes near Habib-i Neccar Mountain in Antakya, the ancient sanctuary once again became a place of worship, linking present-day religious practice with the formative decades of the Christian faith.

The ceremony was led by Dimitri Doğum and Jan Delüller and attended by members of the local Christian community as well as visitors. Prayers and hymns filled the rock-cut interior, while participants also shared wishes for the New Year. The service concluded with the cutting of a New Year’s cake, blending contemporary tradition with a sacred space whose history stretches back nearly two thousand years.

A Cave at the Origins of Christianity

Saint Pierre Church occupies a singular place in Christian tradition. According to the Acts of the Apostles, it was here that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians.” The site is closely associated with Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles, who is believed to have preached his earliest sermons in this cave and led the first Christian community in Antioch.

Originally a natural cave, the site was later adapted into a church through architectural additions. Archaeological research indicates that the cave was already being used as a place of worship around AD 38–40. While its precise founding date remains uncertain, these findings place Saint Pierre Church among the earliest known Christian sacred spaces anywhere in the world.

Antioch and Early Church Organization

Beyond its local importance, Saint Pierre Church played a key role in the development of early Christian institutions. Tradition links the church to both Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and it later became part of the Pentarchy, the system of five major patriarchates that shaped early Eastern Christianity. Within Christian belief, Saint Peter is recognized as the founder of the Antiochene church and the first leader of its congregation.

This historical context gives particular weight to modern ceremonies held at the site. Each liturgy is understood not merely as a symbolic act, but as a continuation of worship practices rooted in the earliest period of Christian organization.

Architecture Shaped by Persecution

The physical form of the church reflects the challenges faced by early Christians. Carved into the western slopes of Mount Stauris, the cave measures approximately 13 meters in depth, 9.5 meters in width, and 7 meters in height. During periods of persecution, believers are thought to have gathered here in secrecy.

A tunnel opening into the mountain is believed to have served as an escape route during raids, allowing worshippers to flee in moments of danger. The cave thus functioned simultaneously as a sanctuary and a refuge, shaping a form of worship defined by caution and resilience.

Archaeological Traces from Late Antiquity

Only limited material remains survive from the church’s later decorative phases. Fragments of floor mosaics and faint wall paintings near the right side of the altar have been preserved and are dated to the fourth and fifth centuries AD. These remnants provide valuable insight into early Christian art in Antioch, despite their fragmentary state.

At the center of the cave stands the altar, above which is placed a stone chair associated with the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, a celebration with particular importance in Antakya’s Christian tradition. Archaeological evidence also shows that the surrounding garden area was used as a burial ground for centuries, with graves discovered near the altar.

Water, Earthquakes, and Continuity

One of the most distinctive features of Saint Pierre Church is the water that naturally seeps from the rock and collects in a small basin. Historically used in baptismal rites, this water was long regarded by visitors as having healing properties. Following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, the flow of this water noticeably diminished.

Despite the scale of the disaster, the church itself suffered no structural damage. Its survival has further reinforced its symbolic status as a place of endurance in a region repeatedly shaped by seismic and historical upheaval.

From Sacred Space to Living Museum

Today, Saint Pierre Church functions primarily as a museum, yet it remains an active place of worship. With official permission and under museum supervision, liturgical services continue to be held on special occasions, including Christmas.

The recent Christmas liturgy highlighted the church’s dual identity: a monument of global religious heritage and a living sacred space. In Antakya—an ancient city shaped by centuries of cultural and religious coexistence—the world’s oldest cave church once again fulfilled its original role, hosting worship in the very place where Christian identity first emerged.

Ancientist