It is rumoured, when Earth was given a birth, mother Earth hugged her very affectionately; touched her and the places she tapped filled up with her everlasting fertility.
Mother Earth had bestowed fertile lands throughout the world. She had loved the earth so much that her eyes misted over and just one drop of tear had fallen to one part of the Earth. The place drop had fallen became more fertile and richer; an endless number of fruit appeared on the ground and the nature was covered with all the colours imaginable. That unique place in Myths is Antakya, the place where we live. There had been many many great emperors fallen in love with her beauty and there had been many many fights for Antioch’s cause. Each emperor who deserved her love presented her with great work of arts.
Antioch… The coddled bride…had accepted all these gifts with her pure modesty and has let them rest on her body … They are still resting…
Now we’d like to take you to a world where you can compose your own music using the notes from history… Haron
One of the precious places that Antioch keeps its mystery lies in the rocks where you can see the Sinner’s Bath. In these rocks where myths spring to life, you’ll come across the Boatman of Hell guiding the deceased between the worlds of the living and the dead.
There is even a legend about this boatman, Haron, amongst the people here. During the reign of VI. Epiphanes, a plague disease broke out. The people in the city asked a soothsayer for the help desperately. He advised them to carve a mask viewing the city high above and he also whispered some mystical words. They carved the mask and on it wrote those mystical words to prevent deaths. Miraculously, the plague came to an end.
Today, you can still see the mask but unfortunately the words have all swept away at present. Who knows, Haron whispers those words in your ear.
Before the odour passing through the dark corridors of Antioch’s history fades away, lay your eyes upon St. Pierre Church shining like a pearl on the Mount Habib Neccar. You’ll feel that the nimbus emanating from its old look touches your heart gently and gives you a glow of peacefulness.
The tolerance and good manners of Habib Neccar, one of the first Christians in the area and after whom the mountain was named, penetrated into the mount’s air and the church has become the symbol of religious toleration throughout the world as a result. In fact, a mosque named after this apostle is one of the historical places in Antioch.
The moment you crack the door of St. Pierre Church ajar, sounds of the prayer calls mingling with the sounds of St. Pierre, St. Paul and Barnabas, some of the first apostles of Jesus, the ding-dongs of the bell and crazy waves of Asi washing up on to the shore spread into the air in a magical harmony and a melody throughout Antioch resonates in your ears…
You will sense rushing steps running away and quick breaths full of fear and thrill ,sounds of history, as you go through the tunnel leading to altar…We give you the key of the door opening to a fairy tale. If what you are in pursuit of is to experience a tale to the fullest rather than just listening to it, Antioch is the ideal place you are looking for…
