Reji Church (Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul)

Reji Church, also known as the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a historical place of worship located in the Eyyübiye district of Şanlıurfa. Built in 1861 atop the ruins of a church dating back to the 6th century, it stands northeast of Ellisekiz Square. Through its various functions and transformations over different periods, it stands as an important cultural heritage site reflecting the city’s layered cultural and religious history.

Interior of Reji Church (Şanlıurfa Governorate

History

The church was constructed in 1861 on the remains of an older church dating to the 6th century. Dedicated to the memory of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, apostles of Jesus Christ, it is also known as the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It functioned as an active place of worship until 1924, when the Syriac community of Urfa left the city.

After 1924, the church came under the ownership of the Turkish Tobacco and Salt Monopoly Administration (Tekel). During this period, it was first used as a tobacco factory and later as a grape storage facility. Among the local population, the building began to be referred to as “Reji Church,” derived from the French word Régie, which was the term used for the monopoly administration. This naming reflects not only the church’s religious identity but also its place within the social and economic history of the region.

Architectural Features

The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul draws attention through its use of stone and its simple, solid structure. Its architecture combines local building techniques from late Ottoman-era Urfa with fundamental elements of Christian religious architecture. The surviving architectural remnants indicate that the building was designed to accommodate both religious and public functions.

Cultural and Social Function

The inscribed gravestones originally found in the church were transferred to the Şanlıurfa Museum after the building changed its function. This underscores that the church was not merely a place of worship but also an integral part of the Syriac community’s cultural memory. Following restoration efforts initiated by the Şanlıurfa Governorate in 1998, the building was reopened on 24 May 2002 as the Vali Kemalettin Gazezoğlu Culture Center. Today, it continues to serve a public function by hosting various cultural and artistic events.

Today, Reji Church is a culturally accessible structure for the public. Alongside its religious heritage, it holds a significant place in the city’s collective memory as a historical site representing Şanlıurfa’s multicultural past.