Bibles unearthed from church rubble bring hope to quake-hit region

Many icons and Bibles were discovered under the earthquake rubble of a historic Orthodox church located in Türkiye's Hatay province that was heavily affected by the earthquake.

Disaster Area Excavation Directorate, established by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry to save valuable cultural assets in the wreckage after Feb. 6 earthquakes, launched a rescue work in the Antioch Greek Orthodox Church in Hatay.

The church, built in 1833 out of wood, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1872 and faced the same destiny when the twin quakes struck southern Türkiye. An excavation team worked meticulously in the church and reached 11 religious icons in the area that turned into a rubble heap.