Here are some of the most fascinating examples of cave churches, monasteries, and chapels around the world.
Crna Reka Monastery in Serbia
Crna Reka Monastery is a 13th-century Serbian Orthodox Monastery hidden among the wilderness and high rocks of Ribarice, Serbia. It takes its name after the Crna Rijka river (“Black River”) which is an underground river flowing 1,5 km under the monastery. The monastery comprises a cave church dedicated to the Archangel Michael with frescoes dating from the late 16th century.
St. Simon Monastery in Cairo, Egypt
Troglodyte Chapel in Haute-Isle, France
Troglodyte Chapel, also known as the Church of Annunciation, is a 17th-century parish church carved into a cliff. The reason why the chapel is called troglodyte (cave dweller) actually comes from the pre-historic background of Haute-Isle. In fact, most of the inhabitants of this town lived in caves called “boves” carved out of a chalk cliff until the 19th century. Therefore, it was predictable how inhabitants would build their church once the town became independent in 1670.
Antioch Saint Pierre Church in Hatay, Turkey
Although there is no exact date of construction is unknown, historical events and oral tradition suggest that the Antioch Saint Pierre Church was in use since the 1st century. Between the 2nd and the 5th centuries, St. Pierre church was at a central location for social life in the ancient city of Antiokheia.
