Quake-hit Hatay church sees repair
The interior of the Karasun Manuk Armenian Church is seen.
Restoration has officially begun at the 150-year-old Karasun Manuk Armenian Church in Hatay, following structural and altar damage sustained during the devastating 2023 earthquakes.
The project receives 5 million Turkish Liras ($130,000) in support following decisions by the Hatay Cultural Heritage Preservation Board and the Monuments Board, with contributions from the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Built in 1876, the historic church sits in the İskenderun district.
Karasun Manuk Armenian Church Foundation Chairman Yusuf Tabaş noted that while the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes spared the church from total destruction, severe ground movement bulged its walls and compromised its main structure and altar. He added that heavily damaged outbuildings will be rebuilt from scratch, while the church’s income-generating shops are also slated for full restoration.
