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Saint Paul's Church is a former church in Tarsus, Mersin Province, Turkey.

Tarsus and the churches

Tarsus, in the Cilicia of the antiquity, in what is now southern Turkey, was an important city during both ancient and medieval ages. The tombs of Daniel of the Bible, and the caliph Al-Ma'mun (786–833), are both in Tarsus. Saint Paul was a resident of Tarsus. He was born and lived in Tarsus as a Jew named Saul and, after converting, made a number of missionary journeys ending in his arrest and beheading by the Roman Emperor Nero in AD 64 or 67 on the 29th of June. After Paul's death, Tarsus continued as an important city of the area. It became part of the Byzantine Empire, the Abbasid Empire, the Seljuk Empire, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, the Ramadanids and the Ottoman Empire.

It is not known if there were any churches established by Paul in Tarsus, but in 1704, P. Lucas wrote that there was a Romanesque church which had been built by Paul. V. Langlois visited Tarsus in 1851 and confirmed this. In his words, thick walls that resembled the Roman style, windows that are narrower outside than inside, and thick columns are noticeable, but no other records exist to substantiate this claim.

Medieval Mersin's most important Christian sanctuary was the Armenian cathedral of Hagia Sophia in which Leon I of the House of Rubenid was crowned by Konrad Von Wittelsbach, the Archbishop of Mainz and the representative of Pope, as the king of the Cilician Kingdom of Armenia in 1198.

The Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I, drowned in Saleph (now called Göksu) river on 10 June 1190, his heart and inner organs might be buried in the Saint Paul's Church.

Saint Paul Church

According to tradition the building date of the Saint Paul Church is 1102, but the present structure, a domeless basilica, was built (or rebuilt) much later, in 1862. The entrance to its grounds is via an ornate gateway. The total area of the church building is 460 m. The longer dimension of the building consists of face stone walls and blind vaults. The interior measures 19.30 m × 17.50 m (63.3 ft × 57.4 ft). In the northeast corner stands an elevated belfry. The sides of the central nave window had been decorated by angels and landscape depictions. On the ceiling there are frescos of Jesus in the middle, and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John at the two sides.

Restoration

The church has been put under protection since 1993 and restoration work was carried out from 1998-2000. It is now under the protection of the Ministry of Culture and officially known as Monumental Museum. Although the church is open to religious services, because of the lack of community, regular services are not held; but ceremonies are held for groups of pilgrims. During Saint Pavlos year between 29 June 2008 and 29 June 2009, there was a number of special ceremonies and the closing ceremony of the year was held in Saint Paul's Church in Tarsus.

The church and its surroundings are on the UN World Heritage Tentative List.

References

1. "Staufergräber - Anlagen". stauferstelen.net (in German).
2. Pocket Guide Mersin, MTSO, Ankara, pp 14-15
3. A page about the church Archived 2010-08-08 at the Wayback Machine
4. Mersin Ören yerleri, Kaleleri, Müzeleri ISBN 978-605-4196-07-4 p.80
5. Page of Anatolian Churches
6. Unesco list

External links

• Pictures of this church

v t e Mersin Province
Settlements Center city Mersin Districts (İlçe) Akdeniz Mezitli Toroslar Yenişehir Anamur Aydıncık Bozyazı Çamlıyayla Erdemli Gülnar Mut Silifke Tarsus All settlements List of populated places in Mersin Province
Culture Universities Mersin University Çağ University Tarsus University Toros University Middle East Technical University Institute of Marine Sciences Alata Research Institute of Horticulture Museums etc. Anamur Museum Arslan Eyce Private Amphora Museum Erdemli Yörük Museum Emirler Archaeological Site and City Forest Museum Gözlükule Research Center Mersin Archaeological Museum Mersin Atatürk Museum Mersin Museum Mersin Naval Museum Mersin State Art and Sculpture Museum Mersin Urban History Museum Mersin Water Museum Narlıkuyu Museum Silifke Museum Silifke Atatürk Museum Tarsus Çanakkale Park Museum Tarsus Museum Taşucu Atatürk Museum Monuments Atatürk Monument Mersin Martyrs' Memorial Frederick Barbarossa Memorial Archaeological wealth Adamkayalar Akkale Ala Bridge Alahan Monastery Altından geçme Anchiale Ancient road in Tarsus Anemurium Aphrodisias Athena relief Aulai Aya Tekla Church Baç Bridge Balabolu Belenkeşlik Castle Canbazlı ruins Caracalla's inscription Casemates of İbrahim Pasha Cleopatra's gate Corycus Çanakçı rock tombs Çandır Castle Çatıören Dağlı Castle Dikilitaş Donuktaş Dörtayak Eğribük (Palaiai) Elaiussa Sebaste Emirzeli Evciler Castle Gömeç Gözlükule Gözne Castle Gülek Castle Hasanaliler Church Hisarin Castle Imbriogon (Demircili) Işıkkale Kabaçam Karakabaklı Kelenderis mosaic Kırkkaşık Bedesten Kızlar Kalesi Kilise Tepe Kravga Bridge Kuzucubelen Castle Lamas Aqueduct Lampron Mamure Castle Mancınık Castle Mausoleum of Danyal Melenia Meydan Castle Meydancık Castle Mezgitkale Mut Castle Nagidos Olba Olba Aqueduct Öküzlü ruins Pasha's Tomb Roman road in Cilicia Saint Paul's Well Shahmeran Hamam Silifke Bridge Silifke Castle Sinap Castle Sinekkale Softa Castle Soli Tapureli ruins Taşgeçit Bridge Taşhan, Mut Tece Castle Tekir ambarı Tekkadın ruins Temple of Jupiter (Silifke) Tırmıl Tokmar Castle Uzuncaburç (Diokaesareia) Üçayaklı ruins Veyselli rock reliefs Warrior relief of Efrenk Yanıkhan Yelbiz Castle Yumuktepe others Mezitli Producer Women's Market
Buildings and structures Modern Mersin Halkevi Mersin Congress and Exhibition Center Atatürk Cultural Center CNR Yenişehir Exhibition Center Mertim Mersin Aquapark Atatürk Park Mersin Marina Tarsus Zoo Mosques and madrasas Muğdat Mosque Grand Mosque of Mersin Mersin Old Mosque Müftü Mosque Tarsus Old Mosque Grand Mosque of Tarsus Kubat Pasha Medrese Laal Pasha Mosque Güzeloluk Mosque Churches Mersin Catholic Church Mersin Orthodox Church Saint Paul's Church Cemeteries Mersin Interfaith Cemetery Cyprus Memorial Forest in Silifke Dams Alaköprü Dam Berdan Dam Birkapılı Dam Gezende Dam Kadıncık 1 HES Kadıncık 2 HES Kayraktepe Dam Otluca HES Pamukluk Dam Silifke HES Industry and trade ATAŞ (Refinery) ACS Mersin Sodakrom Çimsataş Mersin Free Zone Transportation Transport in Mersin Province Mersin Harbor Taşucu Seka Harbor Yeşilovacık Fishing Port Mersin railway station Tarsus railway station Yenice railway station Tırmıl railway station Karacailyas railway station Huzurkent railway station Taşkent railway station Mersin Bus Terminus Çukurova Regional Airport İsmet İnönü Boulevard Adnan Menderes Boulevard Gazi Mustafa Kemal Boulevard Kushimoto Street Boğsak Tunnel Mersin Lighthouse Anamur Lighthouse Aydıncık Lighthouse Sports venues Edip Buran Arena Macit Özcan Sports Complex Mersin Seventh Region Sports Hall Mersin Gymnastics Hall Mersin Arena Mersin Olympic Swimming Pool Mersin Tennis Complex Mersin Volleyball Hall Mezitli Sports Hall Nevin Yanıt Athletics Complex Servet Tazegül Arena Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium Toroslar Bocce Facility Erdemli Shooting Range Erdemli Sports Hall Tarsus City Stadium Tarsus Arena
Geographical features Mersin Gulf Paradeniz Kızılbağ Pond Arslanköy Pond Aydıncık Islands Babadıl Islands Boğsak Islet Bozyazı Island Dana Island Güvercin Islet Saplı Islet Yelkenli Island Yılanlı Island Cape Anamur Cape Tisan Kaledran Creek Dragon Creek Sini Creek Soğuksu Creek Babadıl Creek Göksu River Lamas River Alata River Karacaoğlan River Tece Creek Mezitli River Efrenk River Berdan River Tarsus Waterfall Yerköprü Fall Sertavul Pass Gülek Pass Karboğazı Karakız Lake Karabucak Forest Aydıncık Nature Park Gümüşkum Nature Park Karaekşi Nature Park Pullu I Nature Park Erdemli Pine Groove Kanlıdivane Cennet and Cehennem Akhayat sinkhole Egma Sinkhole Çukurpınar Cave Aydıncık Cave Yedi Uyurlar Cave Kisecik Canyon
Mersin Province

v t e Museums in Turkey
Aegean region	Adatepe Olive Oil Museum Afyonkarahisar Archaeological Museum Akhisar Museum Atatürk's House (Şuhut) Aydın Archaeological Museum Bergama Museum Bostanlı Open-air Archaeological Museum Burhaniye National Forces Culture Museum Çamlık Railway Museum Çeşme Museum Denizli Museum Natural History Museum of Ege University İnciraltı Sea Museum İzmir Archaeological Museum İzmir Art and Sculpture Museum İzmir Ethnography Museum İzmir Toy Museum İzmir Women's Museum Kütahya Archaeological Museum Manisa Archaeological Museum Milas Museum Muğla Museum Ödemiş Museum Ödemiş Urban Archives and Museum Tahtakuşlar Tire City Museum Uşak Museum of Archaeology Victory Museum
Black Sea region	Alaçam Population Exchange Museum Amasra Museum Amasya Museum Baksı Museum Bolu Museum Çorum Archaeological Museum Dikyamaç Museum Giresun Museum Hagia Sophia, Trabzon Karabük Kardemir Iron-Steel Museum Karadeniz Ereğli Museum Kastamonu Ethnography Museum Ordu Ethnographical Museum Rize Atatürk Museum Samsun Atatürk Museum Surgical Instruments and Health Museum Sinop Fortress Prison Sinop Archaeological Museum Söğüt Ertuğrul Gazi Museum Tokat Museum Trabzon Museum
Central Anatolia region	Aksaray Museum Akşehir Museum Anıtkabir Ankara Aviation Museum Atatürk Museum Mansion Atatürk's Residence and Railway Museum Çengelhan Rahmi M. Koç Museum Erimtan Museum Eskişehir Museum Eskişehir Aviation Museum Eskişehir Caricature Museum Eskişehir Meerschaum Museum Eskişehir Wax Museum Ethnography Museum of Ankara Feza Gürsey Science Center Gordion Museum Gökyay Association Chess Museum İnönü Military Quarter and War Museum Karaman Museum Kayseri Archaeology Museum Kırıkkale MKE Weapons Industry Museum Kırşehir Museum Konya Archaeological Museum Konya Ethnography Museum Konya Ereğli Museum Mehmet Akif Ersoy Literature Museum Library METU Science and Technology Museum Mevlana Museum Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Modern Glass Art, Eskişehir Museum of woodworking Nevşehir Museum Niğde Archaeological Museum Pembe Köşk Republic Museum Roman Baths of Ankara Sahip Ata Museum Sivas Congress and Ethnography Museum Stamp Museum State Art and Sculpture Museum Tayfun Talipoğlu Typewriter Museum TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive Museum Ulucanlar Prison Museum Vakıf Museum War of Independence Museum Yozgat Museum
Eastern Anatolia	Boğatepe Cheese Museum Camera Museum, Malatya Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum Ali Demirsoy Natural History Museum Kars Museum Malatya Museum
Marmara region	Museum of Nationist Forces in Balıkesir Bilecik Museum Bursa Archaeological Museum Bursa Atatürk Museum Bursa Forestry Museum Bursa Karagöz Museum Bursa Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art Bursa Energy Museum Camera Museum, Istanbul Çanakkale Archaeological Museum Edirne Museum Gelibolu War Museum Kırklareli Museum Kocaeli Museum Konuralp Museum Mudanya Armistice House Kutman Wine Museum Namık Kemal House Museum Rákóczi Museum Sakarya Museum SEKA Paper Museum Tekirdağ Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography Tofaş Museum of Cars and Anatolian Carriages Troy Museum For museums in Istanbul see Museums in Istanbul
Mediterranean region	Adana Archaeology Museum Adana Cinema Museum Alanya Archaeological Museum Anamur Museum Arslan Eyce Private Amphora Museum Atatürk Museum Adana Ethnography Museum Antalya Museum Atatürk's House Museum (Antalya) Burdur Archaeological Museum Emirler Picnic Area and Museum Hatay Archaeology Museum İskenderun Naval Museum Kahramanmaraş Archaeology Museum Kahramanmaraş Liberation Museum Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum Mersin Archaeological Museum Mersin Atatürk Museum Mersin Museum Mersin Naval Museum Mersin State Art and Sculpture Museum Mersin Water Museum Mersin Urban History Museum Misis Mosaic Museum Narlıkuyu Museum Osmaniye City Museum Saint Paul's Church, Tarsus Silifke Museum Silifke Atatürk Museum Tarsus Çanakkale Park Museum Tarsus Museum Taşucu Amphorae Museum Taşucu Atatürk Museum
Southeastern Anatolia region	Adıyaman Archaeological Museum Ahmet Arif Literature Museum Library Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum Diyarbakır Archaeological Museum Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology Kilis Museum Mardin Museum Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museum Ziya Gökalp Museum
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36°54′51″N 34°53′52″E / 36.91417°N 34.89778°E / 36.91417; 34.89778

• Buildings and structures in Mersin Province
• Pauline churches
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• Tourist attractions in Mersin Province
• History of Mersin Province
• Tarsus, Mersin
• World Heritage Tentative List for Turkey
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