St. Mercurius Underground City
St Mercurius, originally a Roman soldier of Scythian descent, converted to Christianity with his parents and changed his name to Philopater. He gained fame as a soldier during the reign of Emperor Decius after winning a significant battle with a sword he claimed was given to him by the archangel Michael. Despite imperial pressure to worship pagan gods, he refused, and became a martyr for his faith. A popular destination in Cappadocia, the St Mercurius Underground City and Church, consists of four floors with three accessible to visitors. The underground city complex includes various facilities such as three water wells, storage rooms, a toilet, a cellar, and living spaces. Around 250 CE, when Christianity was banned by Roman authorities, the site served as a training ground for early Christians, who were forced to practice their faith in secret while Paganism was the official religion.
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