Saint Paul's Church, Tarsus

The St. Paul's Church is a former church in the district of Ulu Cami of the city of Tarsus in the southern Turkish province of Mersin. It is the only surviving ancient church in the city. The church is a native of Tarsus Paul the Apostle consecrated, which means the construction of Christians worldwide has great symbolic significance.

History

The origins of the church date back to the 12th century. In the 19th century it was restored after the expiration as Orthodox Church. In 1943, she was transferred by the Turkish government in state ownership and first used as a warehouse, then converted into a museum later. Commitments Turkish authorities to authorize the re- opening of the building as a church have not yet been redeemed. However, services of tour groups are available after registration.

Since 2000, the church is at the request of the Turkish Ministry of Culture on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

In October 2010, the German Federal President Christian Wulff took together with the Bishop of the Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church Adiyaman Grigorius Melki Ürek at a service at St Paul's part.

Architecture and Facilities

The St. Paul's Church is externally an unassuming building stone with shallow pitched roof. As her bottom is well below the street level, it will appear lower than it actually is. South and north wall wear blind arches. In the West, an open portal hall is purposed. Above the north entrance a window is embedded in a cross shape. The Ostabschluss form three semicircular apses. About the north is the remnant of a small open belfry.

Inside, there is the St. Paul's Church as a three-aisled, three-bay basilica without transept and choir represents the columns are Romanesque, the shape of the early Gothic arches. The murals on the ceiling and clerestory are from different epochs and to the Apostle Paul and his history reference. Before the main apse is a templon ( iconostasis ), now without pictures.