On Monday we found out that we were being reassigned to study the same people group we have been. The exception is that we had to leave Istanbul and move to a different Turkish city, called Antakya. More commonly known as Antioch.
So…..Tuesday (Nov 17) turned out to be a pretty exciting day. If the name Antioch, doesn’t jog your memory at all, perhaps you have heard of Saul, whom Jesus blinded on the road to Damascus? The guy who was later renamed Paul? Perhaps you have heard of Paul’s dear friend Barnabas?
Well, if you are still lost, then I want to inform you that it was in Antioch that for the first time believers in Jesus Christ were called Christians! It was also in Antioch that God appointed the first missionaries to be sent out to minister to those who have never heard the name of Jesus.
So, if you haven’t figured out where I am going with all this, then I will tell you. on Tuesday, David, Danielle, Artun, and I had the privilege of visiting the church in Antioch, where the Holy Spirit came upon the Christians in Antioch and appointed Paul and Barnabus to be sent out.
It was so sweet! (for lack a better word) The persecution of the early church, forced the early Christians in Antioch to meet in a cave. It was so awesome to see how the cave had been hollowed out and made into a beautiful place of worship.
The walls inside the church look like any normal cave wall. On the floor are remnants of a painted mosaic, which is faded now to the point that only the pale white color of the tile remain. At the back of the room there was a stone altar with the greek letters of Alpha & Omega engraved into the stone. Behind the altar is a stone chair for the leader to sit in while he is not preaching.
Right above the altar (about 10 feet up), a niche is cut into the cave wall and in the niche stands a small statue of St. Peter. The technical name of the church is now St. Peter’s Church, since Peter later came to meet with believers at the church. Peter, of course, was the first leader of the church.
The best part about our story is that we got to worship in the church with some brothers and sisters from Singapore. While we were goofing off, admiring and enjoying being in this incredible church built into the side of the mountain, several other people came in to visit the church. And it hit us that we were there with fellow believers in Christ and we decided to worship together! Amazing Grace was the Hymn.
It is just so awesome to me that no matter where we go, we are joined together in Spirit to fellow believers all across the world! And the church is never what is made up in a building, but simply a group of people who have come together to worship our Lord, Jesus. Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!
