St. Peter's Grotto is a cave church in Turkey, near the modern city of Antakya, ancient Antioch on the Orontes. It is the only ancient Christian trace left in Antakya.
Saint Luke is said to have founded this cave church, but it is named after Peter, who was at the forefront of Christianizing Asia Minor from Antioch.
According to tradition, the first Christian community gathered here around Paul, Barnabas, Peter and then around the first bishops of the city.
The crusaders who conquered Antioch in 1098 rebuilt and enlarged the church and added a facade. The decaying facade was rebuilt in 1863 by Capuchin monks. The restoration of the church was commissioned by Pope Pius IX. and by Napoleon III. co-financed.
Carved into the rock near the church is a relief portrait believed by some to be Charon, the ferryman who brought the dead to Hades. However, it is probably the effigy of a member of the Seleucid dynasty that founded the city.
Source: Wikipedia
Translated by Google •
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