Mersin Ready For "Saint Paul Year"

MERSIN - Local authorities speeded up preparations in Tarsus town of Turkish southern province of Mersin after Pope Benedict XVI declared 2008 as "St. Paul Year".
St. Paul --one of the 12 apostles of Jesus-- lived in Tarsus which the Vatican considers a pilgrimage place.
Mersin Governor Huseyin Aksoy told AA that every year many tourists visit the house of St. Paul, the church and a well which were believed to have been built by St. Paul.
Aksoy said "St. Paul Year" events will begin at St. Paul Church in Tarsus on June 21st at a ceremony which will be held with participation of cardinals from Vatican.
"Thus, the number of visitors to the town and also Mersin will significantly rise," Aksoy added.
Aksoy said they are holding talks with tourism agencies, and they started modernization of St. Paul well and surrounding places and houses.
(GC-MS)