Reconstruction work has begun on the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Paul in Antakya, more than a year after devastating earthquakes struck southern Turkey on February 6, 2023.

The 7.8-magnitude quake and a powerful aftershock were among the deadliest in Turkey’s modern history, causing widespread destruction across the region. In Antakya, much of the historic city center was reduced to rubble, including Saray Street—one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares. The Church of St. Paul, belonging to the Greek Orthodox community of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, was buried under debris reaching up to five meters high.

According to the Associated Press, the restoration project is led by architect Buse Ceren Gül, who had prepared architectural plans for the church’s renovation even before the disaster occurred. Fortunately, the approved drawings were preserved, allowing work to resume despite the extensive damage.

The effort is supported by the World Monuments Fund, which is providing technical and financial assistance. Specialists have already cleared the site and carefully salvaged surviving masonry elements for use in the reconstruction.

Before the earthquakes, around 10,000 Christians lived in Hatay Province, forming one of Turkey’s largest Christian communities outside Istanbul. The restoration of the 19th-century church is seen not only as the preservation of an architectural landmark but also as a powerful symbol of cultural and historical continuity in a city striving to rebuild.