While the historical Greek Church in Samsun Tekkeköy district was plundered by treasure hunters, writings were also spray-painted on the walls of the church. The local community wants to take measures, stating that the historical church has recently become the residence of people who drink alcohol.
The centuries-old Greek Church, located in the Altınkaya District of Tekkeköy and estimated to have been built in the 17th century, was ruined due to illegal excavations.
Writings were spray-painted on the walls of the church, which was left by the Greeks who were exchanged by the Treaty of Lausanne.
The church, where collapses have also occurred on its ceiling and walls, has recently become the residence of people who drink alcohol. The neighborhood residents who complained about this situation wanted the historical church to be repaired as soon as possible.
Stating that the historical church was plundered by treasure hunters, Altınkaya District Headman Kenan Mutlucan said; “In the past years, there have been people coming to the church to seek a treasure, especially in the evening. Recently, they wrote writings on the walls, stones were poured from all parts of the church. The stones on its ceiling also fell to the ground. From time to time, people who drink alcohol also come to church and do inappropriate things. Our children and women in our neighborhood may see these people as inappropriate. We are all uncomfortable with this situation. We, as the residents of the neighborhood, want this church to be repaired and landscaped. There is every inappropriate thing in the church, we can’t even go inside.”
The local resident, Hüseyin Mutlucan, stated that with the demolition of the school next to the church, treasure hunters haunted the church. He said that because the church was very old, it was also affected by rain and snow, and collapses occurred on the ceiling. He stated that people who consumed alcohol entered the church and ran away when the gendarmerie arrived. He stated that the restoration of the church would be very good for the region.
