Saint Mercurius Underground City The Saint Mercurius Underground City, situated in Saratli village near the Aksaray-Nevsehir main road, is a complex that has captivated visitors with its rich historical heritage. The city consists of seven levels, but only three levels are accessible to tourists. The entrance to the city is through an inn from the Seljuk period known as Develik. From there, visitors can explore the corridors and chambers that lead to the underground church, which is unusually large and includes graves for both children and adults. The underground city complex features a range of facilities, including three water wells, storage rooms, a toilet, cellar, and living quarters. The site was once a training ground for early Christians in around 250 AD when Christianity was outlawed by the Roman authorities, and people were forced to practice the Pagan religion. Saint Mercurius, also known as Philopater, was a military official who rose to prominence under Emperor Decius. However, when the emperor won a war against the Berber people and wanted to offer fumigants to Pagan gods, Mercurius refused to participate, stating that he would pray only to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This caused the emperor to banish Mercurius to Cappadocia, where he was ultimately executed by decapitation as an act of revenge. The church was a site of worship since earlier periods, and excavations have revealed approximately 20 graves of both children and adults containing human remains. One of the graves contained the skeletons of a male and female buried together.