*5.2. Method*

The goal of this study is to identify the determining criteria for religious routes to receive international certification. The St. Paul's Route, which has a lot of potential, was chosen as the research material. As research methods, in-depth literature analysis and descriptive analysis methods were used. Firstly, it was determined what types of studies on religious routes had been conducted in the literature. According to the literature review, there are book publications about cultural routes that are specific to very old dates. The concepts associated with the cultural route are generally attempted to be explained in

the books. When scientific article research was examined, it was discovered that there are generally publications on cultural routes and few publications on religious routes. The articles were mostly about tourism, the socioeconomic impacts of cultural routes, the opportunities they provide, and the risks they face. There are, however, no publications in the literature on route certification systems, certification criteria, or how to present a route. A descriptive analysis of the certification that a route can receive has been made using information gathered from the literature and certificate programs.

**Figure 3.** St. Paul's Route of Turkey.

This method's steps are indicated as "Determining decision makers for certification, determining of certificate criteria, researching of authentic route, researching authentic route, researching current versions of the authentic route, planning of the proposed route and eligibility analysis of the proposed route for certificate" (Figure 4). This method will determine how a route should be planned as well as which certificate programs the route can apply to.

**Figure 4.** Flowchart of the research.

## **6. Conclusions and Recomendations**

Cultural routes are one of the most important and current issues at the intersection of architectural conservation and tourism disciplines today. The goal of organizing a cultural route is to convey important information and values about historical roads while connecting them and presenting travel, recreation, observation, sports, entertainment, and/or discovery routes as a whole. Thus, cultural routes (CR) promote cultural heritage as humanity's common heritage and encourage the spread of cultural activities. They aid in the discovery and protection of cultural values such as historical cities and villages, architectural heritage, cultural landscape, and intangible cultural heritage, and they are also useful for evaluating natural areas in this context. They expand economic and social development opportunities, particularly in terms of job creation, by bringing movement and dynamism to the regions within its sphere of influence. The potential benefits and advantages drive cultural tourism and influence the development of sustainable tourism.

The St. Paul's Route was used to evaluate the characteristics that a religious route should have based on the results of an analysis of the criteria of the international organizations that grant certificates and the characteristics of the certified religious routes. The versions of the St. Paul's Route in use today are not of sufficient quality to receive international certification. However, when compared to the authentic St. Paul's journeys, the St. Paul's Route has the potential to meet the needs of all three decision-making organizations. For this reason, in this study, a new St. Paul Route that can receive certificates from international organizations has been suggested, based on the real stops in St. Paul's authentic journeys (Figure 5).

**Figure 5.** Suggested St. Paul's Route and Stops.

The authentic St. Paul's Route provides stops in 11 countries: Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, Italy, Malta, Cyprus (northern and southern parts), Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Syria. It has stops in four European countries, as requested by the COE criteria: Greece, Italy, North Macedonia and Malta. All of the countries St. Paul visited were turned into a ring in this study. The longest distance on the route is 3530 km by road and 2305 km by air distance between Rome and Jerusalem. The longest distance traveled on COE pilgrimage routes is approximately 3000 km. Due to the length of the route, the St. Paul route should be designed in such a way that travelers can join the route from many stops, just like the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Route.

As the most influential person in the spread of the Christian religion to Europe, St. Paul has a special theme that represents European values. Scientific studies on St. Paul have been and continue to be conducted primarily in Greece and Turkey. Archaeological

excavations also aid religious and historical studies. It welcomes the expansion of Europe's religious memory, history, and heritage. Many archaeological and historical structures, such as churches, temples, and wells built in St. Paul's honor, can be found in the countries where he traveled. Young people can benefit from cultural and educational exchange programs. The involvement of 11 countries from two continents in this project will result in a serious cultural and educational exchange for all tourist groups. A single journey will allow them to experience European and Asian cultures, cultural transitions, and interactions. It is likely to be preferred in terms of tourism because it will bring together two different continents and various nations that have been in constant interaction throughout history. The route's cultural diversity and richness are at a level that will appeal to people of all ages and faiths. It is likely to be a model and innovative project because it will encourage historically and politically contentious countries to collaborate and contribute to peace.

We mentioned in the UNESCO and WHC criteria that it should have at least one item of outstanding universal value and that religious routes should include items ii, iv, and vi. St. Paul's Route differs from others in that it depicts the transformation of the most basic church architecture born in the Asian continent, in the Christian religion, into cathedrals in Europe, as well as a spiritual journey, as described in items ii and iv. It will also be the only route that takes tourists and pilgrims to Jerusalem, the holy city of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Another important aspect to which the route refers to item vi is that it involves conveying the beliefs, ideas, and arts of these three religions through an immersive and tactile experience. There is no need to be concerned about the route's authenticity, because St. Paul's journeys are described in detail in the Acts of the Apostles; if the route includes all of the stops described in the Bible, the information will be correctly conveyed to the participants. It is also possible to provide the integrity value: when the real stops described in the Bible, the monuments built in St. Paul's name, the areas where St. Paul preached, prayers, meditations, hymns, and stories are correctly transferred to the route, the route's integrity will be ensured. Meeting the conservation and management requirements may be the most difficult aspect of this route. The journey through 11 culturally and geographically diverse countries necessitates an excellent conservation and management strategy. The most important point is that all countries work together. Each country should establish an official institution to manage this route. This institution determines the route of the path in its own country, religious buildings to be visited, organizations such as ceremonies and celebrations, public order, location and quality of tourism facilities such as accommodation and food, the creation of buffer zones, infrastructure and transportation systems, tourist satisfaction, employment, and local people protection. Furthermore, it should assess the repair and restoration needs of the religious and architectural heritage along the route and prepare these structures for the route in a way that balances protection and use. In terms of the concept criterion, religious paths have their own core concepts. St. Paul's Route can promote international exchange and dialogue while describing the spread of Christianity that emerged in Asia to Europe.

The St. Paul's Route's distinguishing features are also very strong. The route's length and cultural diversity define the spatial character of the religious and cultural bond that remains between the two continents. The journeys made by St. Paul between 46 and 69 BC, as well as those made in his name today, show that there is enough existence for a historical identity. Its role and purpose are universal. It is at a level to demonstrate the products of Christianity in each country, as well as its interaction with societies and other monotheistic religions. The route's story will be shaped by stories about St. Paul in the Bible and among individuals. Scientific studies should be used to determine the route's boundaries and concentration points. The route should be accurate because it will convey information about a real person and events. For example, while St. Paul's Route forms a ring, travelers should be aware that the journey begins in the Tarsus District of Turkey, where St. Paul was born, and ends in Rome, where St. Paul was executed.

The ICOMOS and CIIC criteria emphasize authenticity as well. The use of the authentic environment is added to the authentic route. The authentic locations of St. Paul's Route can also be determined using scientific research and information gathered from the local population, because he is a well-known character to almost everyone. If scientific sources can be used to determine how long St. Paul stayed in which place and what he did, how long the route will take and what can be done at each stop can be determined more clearly. Another requirement stated that continents should be the result of interactions between countries and regions. When the route is implemented in its authentic form, this feature will directly demonstrate how strong the route is as a route that spans two continents and twelve countries. ICOMOS's fourth criterion is that "affected cultures must maintain their tangible and intangible heritage values". This criterion was one of the strengths of the authentic St. Paul's Route, but it has been overlooked by the current St. Paul's Routes. First and foremost, the churches bearing the name of St. Paul should be included in the authentic route. St. Paul's Church and St. Paul's Well in Tarsus Town, Turkey, where he was born, and St. Paul's Church in Antiochia Ancient City of Isparta City, where he gave his first sermon, should be included on the route (Figure 6).

**Figure 6.** St. Paul Church—Isparta, Turkey; and St. Paul Church—Tarsus, Turkey.

One critical criterion is that the route generates revenue for the preservation and restoration of architectural heritage. Because the European continent is predominantly Christian, the church structures on this continent have been well preserved. However, because Islam is the dominant religion in Asian countries, many churches in these countries are neglected. Churches in various properties and borders are unable to be repaired due to political obstacles. As a consequence, St. Paul's Route could be a pioneer in the restoration of these churches with international cooperation. In Turkey, for example, there are numerous church structures dating from the ancient period to the end of the nineteenth century (Figure 7). Factors such as the deterioration of the Ottoman Empire's cosmopolitan structure at the end of World War I, the fact that the war environment and turmoil could not be overcome for a long time, and the migration of some peoples from different cultures left the churches in this geography without community, dysfunctional, and neglected. The Greek churches, in particular, were on the verge of collapse due to political, economic, and cultural issues between Greece and Turkey. ˙ Iç Kale Church, Arap Evliyası Chapel, Civarda Burnu Chapel in Alanya and the Aya Georgios, Aya Yorgi, and Aya Baniya Churches in Isparta are among the religious structures in this situation. These churches were not built during St. Paul's lifetime, but they are included in the route as a result of St. Paul's efforts to spread Christianity.

It is critical to preserve the values of religious architectural heritage and intangible cultural heritage. The story of St. Paul's journeys is the route's most important intangible cultural heritage. Other elements should be researched scientifically and added to the route. ICOMOS and CIIC both value engagement with the natural environment. Other interesting natural areas discovered on the authentic route should be included in the new route. This criterion is easily met by the St. Paul's Route. In Turkey, for example, St. Paul's Route begins in Antalya's Perge Ancient City and ends in Isparta's Antiochia Ancient City. The natural areas where St. Paul actually walked are along the 500 km road between these

two stops. Travelers connect with nature and soil by camping in natural areas between these two stops. When the entire authentic route is researched, it will be possible to establish relationships with the natural and historical environments along the entire route. The St. Paul's Route already includes the criterion of encouraging interaction between people of different cultures and ethnic groups. With cultural interaction, Christianity, which originated in Asia, spread through the European continent. Except for the countries along the route, religious practices and traditions have spread across the entire European continent and other geographies since Christ. For centuries, both continents, and even the entire world, have seen Christian practices, rituals, and celebrations that are at the heart of the route.


**Figure 7.** Examples of churches that need restoration In Turkey.

Consequently, the St. Paul Route, like the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Route, has the potential to receive certificates from three international decision-making organizations: COE, UNESCO and WHC, and ICOMOS and CIIC. When combined with its authentic route for receiving certificates, it could be the world's second route to achieve three certificates. It can make significant contributions to the preservation and survival of architectural, religious, natural, and intangible cultural heritage across a broad geographic area, as well as to the establishment of world peace, international relations, and inter-religious dialogue. **Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** Not applicable.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.

## **References**


McGrath, Alister E. 1999. *Christian Spirituality: An introduction*. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.


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