Saint Paul and Peter Church on Verge of Collapse, Ignored by Turkish Authorities

The Armenian Saint Paul and Peter Church, located in the Tomarza district of the Kayseri province in central Turkey, is on the brink of collapse. This is reported by Ermenihaber.am. The church's roof has noticeable cracks and broken sections, while parts of the plaster have come off the columns and lower sections of the building.

One resident of Tomarza spoke about the church, stating, “The church, which once served as a storage facility and later as a cinema for the people, is now abandoned. Our greatest wish is for the church, which has lost its gravestone, to be restored and to become an attractive destination for tourism. Traces of wall paintings that reflect its historical significance are still preserved on the walls.”

Now turned into a pigeon coop, the church faces the danger of collapse every moment due to neglect and indifference. This church in Tomarza is one of the places that local and foreign history enthusiasts must see. We hope that the church will be restored before it collapses.

It is noteworthy that the church was built in 1837 and was used as a storage facility before being transformed into a cinema after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The Turks and Kurds referred to the local Armenians’ bravery by calling Tomarza 'Küçük Zeytun', meaning 'Little Zeytun'. The Armenian cultural remnants in Tomarza are still visible both in the city and its surroundings.