Documentation of the Northern Church and Contextualizing the Relations Between Religious Structures in St. Thecla (Meryemlik) Archaeological Site

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Özügül A. (Yürütücü), Ar B.(Yürütücü), Almaç U.(Yürütücü)

Diğer Ülkelerin Sivil Toplum Kuruluşları Tarafından Desteklenmiş Proje, 2021 - 2022

• Proje Türü: Diğer Ülkelerin Sivil Toplum Kuruluşları Tarafından Desteklenmiş Proje
• Başlama Tarihi: Mayıs 2021
• Bitiş Tarihi: Temmuz 2022

Proje Özeti

Female saint Thecla of Iconium is a prominent figure in the history of early Christianity. She joined Paul in the early years of her life and performed several miracles such as surviving from life threatening situations during her travels. Her other miracles are associated with protection, healing and the power of teaching the belief. A pilgrimage site dedicated to her was developed around the cave where she is thought to have disappeared. Thecla is believed to have spent most of her life in this cave near Seleukeia, and had a primary effect on the Christianization of Cilicia and Isauria regions. In Late Antique period, Selukeia was both the administrative and ecclesiastical metropolis of Isauria Province also known as Rough Cilicia. Her sanctuary is located 2 km south of Silifke (ancient Seleukeia ad Calycandum[a1] ) in Mersin. The site is locally referred as Meryemlik.

The site has become an important pilgrimage center in 4^th to 6^th centuries. 5^th century was the “Golden Age” of the region in terms of architectural development, in relation with the advancements in local economy, revenues from pilgrimage centers and imperial donations especially in the period of Emperor Zeno (474-491). After that period, civil wars during the reign of Anastasius (491-518), natural disasters, 6^th century Persian and 7^th century Arab attacks caused destruction all over Cilicia.