Silifke Ayatekla Archaeological Sitevisitor guide.

Aya Tekla Underground Church (Meryemlik): Located 4 km from Silifke district center, this archaeological site is one of the earliest and most vital centers of Christianity in Anatolia. Inspired by the preachings of Saint Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, Thecla spread Christianity; facing pagan persecution and learning she would be executed, she fled to Seleucia and hid in a cave later turned into a church. It is believed that just as she was to be killed, she miraculously vanished in this cave. The cave where Saint Thecla lived was venerated as holy by Christians after her disappearance, used as a secret prayer house until Christianity was legalized in 312 AD. It was converted into a church in the 4th century. DOWNLOAD MUSEUM BROCHURE NEARBY MUSEUMS MERSIN KIZ KALESİ KANLI DİVANE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE SİLİFKE ATATÜRK HOUSE AND ETHNOGRAPHY MUSEUM SİLİFKE NARLIKUYU MOSAIC MUSEUM SİLİFKE UZUNCABURÇ ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE CENNET CEHENNEM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE