Easter among the victims of the Antioch earthquake, a ‘sign of hope’

Bishop Bizzeti celebrated Sunday mass with Father Antuan Ilgıt and about eighty faithful in the grotto of the Church of Saint Peter. Local Christians, volunteers and dignitaries, including the Korean ambassador, attended. It was a moment of “consolation” for the community affected by the earthquake. Like the women in the Gospel passage, one must not lose “courage”.

Hatay () – It was a “beautiful” celebration, which brought together “the Christians who have remained, the volunteers who came to help during the earthquake emergency and some foreigners”, including “the Korean ambassador to Turkey. It was a very emotional moment.” in dialogue with , mons. Paolo Bizzeti, vicar of Anatolia, refers to the Easter Sunday mass that was celebrated in the grotto of the church of Saint Peter of antiochepicenter of the devastation caused by the earthquake of February 6. More than two months later, the city still bears the marks of destruction on every street, on every corner, in every square. “We are very grateful and grateful to the Turkish authorities, who have allowed us to celebrate Mass,” continued the prelate. “This moment represents a sign of hope, also and above all for the local community.”

Christians in Hatay province had long hoped to be able to celebrate the holiday, despite numerous difficulties, including obtaining permits to access an area marked by devastation and debris everywhere. The cave in which the place of worship is located is on Mount Silpio, which dominates the city, and precisely “from the terrace” of the church, says Monsignor Bizzeti, it is possible to see “the ruins” left behind by the earthquake. “We were able to celebrate Easter Sunday according to the passage from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 28.2). In the Gospel account, “the women have the experience of an earthquake” and see “the Angel of the Lord: we also had this experience ” that “includes and exalts” the evangelical metaphor.

A local broadcaster filmed the service, which was attended by about 80 people, and this allowed it to be disseminated and shared more widely. The police and the people in charge of the building that “today is a museum”, explained the vicar, “colaborated a lot”, allowing the community (1,200 families before the earthquake, about 6,000 people) “to live a moment of peace and fraternity”. “There was a positive climate, for the locals it was a moment of great consolation,” underlines the prelate, who arrived with some faithful by bus from Iskenderun. “The Christians received us warmly. After all, Antioch has suffered other earthquakes throughout its history, it is not the first time, and this is also a sign of continuity, of a path that does not stop and returns to begin”.

Father Antuan Ilgıt, Jesuit and Bishop Chancellor of the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia, also celebrated the Mass, who delivered the homily, recalling that the challenge is to keep hope alive, looking at the Risen Christ on Easter Day. Like women who “do not lose courage” and “do not give up in despair at death”, the priest stressed, recalling the Gospel passage, so we “have much to learn” from them in terms of “sensitivity, faith and determination “. The stones of prejudice, condemnation, jealousy, slander and hostility “tear our communities apart,” the priest observed. We are invited to see “that place of death” that is now part of earthquake-ravaged Turkey “to seek Jesus.” We must resume the search for the Lord”, “from that grave, and begin with a humble heart, not with pride and arrogance”, concluded Fr. Antuan,

Meanwhile, in Antioquia the emergency continues with “hundreds of trucks loaded with rubble, creating terrible clouds of dust,” says Bishop Bizzeti. This shows that the city remains “uninhabitable: shantytowns and tent camps multiply.” Even in the western hills, which I personally visited, there are many damaged houses, and unimaginable devastation. “The damage is also considerable in the countryside, where landslides have been favored by the precariousness of the constructions.” As for aid, the prelate continues, “we still have provisions and basic necessities, the real problem is housing: the government has prohibited building works for at least a year in Antioquia, where there will only be tents.” We hope that they will not take too long in preparing the urban plan”. As the months go by, structural problems arise and it becomes essential to “rethink” the city: “I hope that what happened is an opportunity to carry out an archaeological investigation between the houses collapsed, where ancient ruins and interesting finds could emerge to relaunch tourism in the region in the future,” concludes the Vicar of Anatolia.

IN SUPPORT OF THE INITIATIVES IN FAVOR OF THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS CARRIED OUT BY THE APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF ANATOLIA AND THE CUSTODY OF THE HOLY LAND, THE PIME FOUNDATION HAS OPENED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO CONTRIBUTE.