Christians in Turkey pray for return to the ruins of ancient Antioch

Worshippers attend a mass for those of their community killed by last year's earthquake at Greek Orthodox Church which was also destroyed by the quake in Antakya's historical city center, in Hatay, Turkey, February 6, 2024. The magnitude 7.8 tremor that struck in the early hours of Feb. 6, 2023, levelled towns and city swathes in the country's southeast. It killed more than 53,000 people in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in neighbouring Syria and left millions homeless. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

ANTAKYA, Turkey (Reuters) - The Antioch Greek Orthodox Church brought Christians together in Turkey's Antakya for centuries until last year, when an earthquake killed dozens of them and sent hundreds more fleeing.

Though it now lies in ruins, many pray it will again bring them back.