The Habib al-Najjar Mosque in Antakya, the oldest in Turkey, became a relic behind the eye as a result of the devastating earthquake that hit the country on February 6 last year, leaving tens of thousands dead and injured, in addition to destroying thousands of residential, office and commercial buildings. Habib al-Najjar, which was built in 638 AD, is not the first time that an earthquake turned it into a pile of rubble . It was rebuilt after the earthquake that hit Antioch in 1853 and destroyed the city, which has witnessed many earthquakes, especially between 147 and 37 BC, as well as in 115 and 458 AD, and an earthquake that hit the city in 526 killed a quarter of a million people, and in 1054 about ten thousand people were killed.
The ruins of the mosque became a refuge for Muhammad Ismat, who survived the earthquake. Like another survivor, Bulent Chivsifli, he searches for his mother among the rubble of buildings adjacent to the mosque. facial features disappeared, Chivesifly had a hard time locating himself among the ruins.
The city of Antioch, which was called “Antioch”, was founded by Alexander the Great in 300 BC, and Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs and Ottomans passed through it for a short time, as well as the period between the second and fourth decades of the last century.
Chivsifli, who lived most of his life next to the Habib al-Najjar Mosque, says: “Antioch has always been a city that opens its doors to everyone, regardless of their races, creeds and beliefs. Currently, the indigenous people living in this city are Christians with the Alawite sect along with a large number of Syrian refugees.Chivsifly firmly believes that the city will rise again after the devastating earthquake, and said, crying: “Who is Antioch? Now we are in it, and tomorrow it is theirs”, referring to future generations.
