Below you will find three main parts : 
 

Sites that has significance for Christians ; pilgrimage sites , Biblical sites , and churches of Istanbul with a focus in the Byzantine period. Also , background on Saint Paul, cities visited by him, 7 churches are also included.  On my main page www.welldoneturkey.com , you may find some more details .

Significant Christian Sites , Biblical sites : 

 In Anatolia early Chirstianity took shape so that it had become the state religion of the Roman Empire by 393 AD. 
For Christians, many important events had taken place, many important people had lived on the lands of Turkey, but unfortunately many are unaware of it. Still it is a great chance in a trip through Turkey to appreciate their heritage and respect for those important people, shaping the history, who have walked this land before them. The book of Relevation concerns God's judgements and Christians' finalities.Paul, John, Polycarp, Basil (who have been in Turkey) and all the rest were trying to prevent the disintegration of Christianity by clarifying and sharpening the alternatives facing Christians.

The message of the Bible is simple and direct:"'Come!' say the spirit and the bride."'Come!' let each hearer reply." Come forward, you who are thirsty; accept the water of life, a free gift to all who desire it".

Antioch - Antakya : 
Antioch is the place where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. Antioch had been refounded and named by one of Alexander the Great's generals, S. Nicator. By the time of Paul, Peter and Barnabas, Antioch had been an important city.

A grotto at the foot of the hills known as St. Peter's Grotto was discovered by Crusaders and early Christians met in that place in secret.

In the later history of Antioch, 10 assemblies of the church were held there, and it became the residence of Patriarch of Asia. St. Gerome-the one who later prepared the Vulgate-believed he saw Jesus in a vision when he was in Antioch in 373 AD. After 500 AD, many earthquakes devasted the area. Thousands of people were killed in 526, just when a large Christian Church meeting was being held.

Two of the bishops of Antioch are famous in church history: Peter and Ignatius. 

Tarsus : 
Apostle Paul who was born there. The city had been living thousands of years before him. Several famous people have been associated with the city: Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar...

But none of the great people who honored Tarsus by their presence can be compared with the Apostle Paul in his influence in Christianity. He was born as a jew. Converted to Christianity on the Damascus Road. Later he had to flee from angry Jews for his life to Tarsus. 

Barnabas needed someone to help him and he went to Tarsus to meet Paul. This is the last reference to Paul's being in Tarsus in the Bible. As an important commercial center and seaport, Tarsus's entire history was one of mixing East and West.

Not much remains in Tarsus. A gate left from the walled city of the Roman period is known as St. Paul's or Cleopatra's Gate. A section of a main screen leading to the hippodrome has been uncovered. Some of the projections on the front side of Ulu Cami are remains of a church.

THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION :
 
The places are well-known; all can be visited by excursions from Ephesus area, or Izmir, Turkey's third largest city which is also of of the 7 with its old name Smyrna. 

The author of Relevation, John had written, expecting his work to be read aloud, not only in the Seven Churches he adressed but also throughout the area.

Ephesus - Efes: 

Ephesus has got the only theatre mentioned in all of Bible, with references to the local silversmith called Demetrius ( you may go see the silver collection of the jeweller of Sirince villlage whose nick name is also Demetrius, at Sirince mountain viallage, 7 km to Ephesus ). To the north of the theater one can see the decorated arch, the entrance to the stadium. A wide street called the Arcadian Way streched from the base of the theater lined with statues, porticos and public buildings. Just north of the Arcadian way is the Church of the Virgin Mary.

Another street streches from the theater south to the library of Celsus. To the west of the library are stairs, the tumbled columns, and the exquisite decorations of the temple of Serapis.When Paul was returning from Corinth to Ephesus talked in a synogogue where he was asked to stay longer in Ephesus, and promised, "I shall come back to you if it's God's will." It is believed that John brought Virgin Mary to Ephesus and she lived out her days on a hilltop south of the city. The home of Mary, is now visited by many pilgrims each year coming to see and pray in this ancient spot of worship.

Smyrna - Izmir : 


Being one of the oldest continuosly inhabited places of the world, Izmir has had many disasters but in spite of all this and more, Izmir has flourished continuosly from Hellenistic times to the present. There are few remains of the Hellenistic city. Polycarp, an early member of the Christian church in Smyrna was bishop there from 115 to 156 AD. He was important to the early church as a preserver of the purity of the Gospel. He was an accurate transmitter of the first traditions of Christianity.

Pergamum - Bergama : 

Established in 3rd century bc, by Philetarios  who was followed by line of kings under the same names Eumenes and Attalos who created a kingdom beginning from just a single  city. This is where famous phisician Galen came from. The city has got an impressive ancient hospital ( asclepion ) that is a seperate museum imn the lower city as well as an acropolis so challenge the acropolis of Athens. ( Its Athena temple and Zeus Altar are to be seen in Berlin, Pergamon museum )  In 133 BC. Attalus 3 bequeathed the kingdom of Pergamum to the Roman government and it became known as the province of Asia. It was still a principal city of the province when the Book of Relevation was written. The large theater built into the hillside and extending upwards for 78 rows of seats is impressive for its steepness. North of the theater is the temple of Athena and between them number of other temples can be seen. In the lower part of Pergamum, its largest building of the Roman period is the Red Court.

A museum where archeological and ethnological items are displayed is located on the main street of the city. 

Thyatira - Akhisar : 


Thyatira was founded by the Lydians and was called Pelopia. The coins of the ancient town give us clues to the kind of gods worshipped there. In the first sentence of the letter in Relevation to the angel of the church in Thyatira there is reference to "the Son of God,whose eyes flame like fire and whose feet gleam like burnished brass"(2:18) 

Thyatira is now a modern city, remains of its old self to be seen are an ancient temple, a collonaded road, and a large church.

Sardis - Sart : 


One of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches is the site of Sardis. Sardis became the center of one of the greatest kingdoms of the ancient world, Lydia. The famous temple of Artemis lying along the Pactolus River dates from the 400 BC. Besides the temple, a small Byzantian church on one corner, and the acropolis, the last meters of the Royal Road from Susa to Sardis, a number of shops, and the gymnasium. John told the Christians of Sardis that the letter in the Relevation was from "the One who holds the seven spirits of God the seven stars"(3:1)

Philedelphia- Alasehir : 
The city of brotherly love - philedelphos was established by Pergamon kingdom.  On the lower parts  of the city are parts  of Byzantine walls. Philedelphia was a missionary city from its beginning. The city existed prior to Christanity in Hellenistic period as well.  The most interesting remains of Christian Philedelphia consist of part of a Byzantine basilica built of brick with a big high arch.

Laodicea - Laodikea :  


The remains coming to our day are wide scattered . The ancient water pipe line  , part of  walls, and  some  significant social  buildings: Two theaters, a large stadium, and an odeon.The city was at the crossroads of north-soth traffic between Sardis and Perga, and east-west traffic from the Euphrates to Ephesus.  Can easily be seen on your return trip from Pamukkale ( do not miss the sign after your turn from Denizli to pamukkale ; within the next quarter mile is the right turn, the sign is old, difficult to nitice. 

 John probably referred to  the hot springs of Hierapolis(Pamukkale) which was just across from Laodicea :  He said as is written in the Bible "I know all your ways; you are neither hot nor cold.How I wish you were either hot or cold! But because you are lukewarm; neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!"(3:14). 


  
 
 CHURCHES IN ISTANBUL
The Saint Antoine Church
Located on Istiklal Street in Beyoglu, the Saint Antoine Church is on the left side of the street if you are facing from Galatasaray towards Tünel. Construction began in 1906 and the church was completed in 1912. Its architect, Giulo Mongeri, who was born in Istanbul, gave it an Italian Neo-Gothic style. Today it is Istanbul's largest church with the busiest congregation and is run by Italian priests. The Church was built in a courtyard. The entrance of the church is on the main street between two apartments which were built to raise money for the church. 
  
  

The Bulgarian Church
This church belongs to the Bulgarian minority and is the most interesting church in Istanbul. The Bulgarian minority of the Ottoman Empire used to pray at the churches of the Fener Orthodox Patriarchy. Due to the nationalistic movements, Bulgarians were allowed to build their own church in the 19th century. First, a small wooden church was built on the shore of the Golden Horn between Balat and Fener squares (near Eyup district) where the current church is located, but later this was developed into a larger building. An iron frame was preferred to concrete reinforcement due to the weak ground conditions. The construction plans were prepared by Hovsep Aznavur, an Armenian of Istanbul origin. An international competition was conducted to produce the prefabricated parts of the church. An Austrian firm, R. Ph. Wagner, won the competition. The prefabricated parts were produced in Vienna and transported to Istanbul by ship through the Danube and the Black Sea. After one and a half years work, it was completed in 1898. The main skeleton of the church was made of steel and covered by metal boards. All the pieces were attached together with nuts, bolts, rivets or welding. The architectural styles come from the Neo-Gothic and Neo-Baroque periods. 
  
  

The Roman Ortodox Patriarchate
Located in the Fener region (near Eyup district), between Sadrazam Ali Pasa Street and Incebel Street, the Roman Orthodox Patriarchate is located in the yard of this church. In 1602, the Patriarch moved to Aya Yorgi, when the site was used as monastery. Since that time, a good many renovations have occurred, the most recent of which ended in 1991, owing to damage sustained by fire in 1941. Although not so significant architecturally, Aya Yorgi possesses valuable historical artifacts. Among the most significant are: a patriarchs throne, dating circa the 5th century; three samples of rare mosaic icons; a column which is believed to have been used for the binding and flogging of Jesus in Jerusalem; and cascades belonging to three women saints. 
  

Surp Krikor Lusarovic Armenian Ortodox Church
It is the oldest Armenian church in Istanbul. It was written in a manuscript that there was a church there in the name of Surp Sarkis in 1360. It was rebuilt in 1431. Since it was fell down in 1958, architect Bedros Zabyan built a new one. It is one of the churches which was built during Turkish Republic period. Its conical dome differs it from other Armenian churches. 
  

Virgin Mary Suryani Church
It is the only church which was built by Suryanis in Istanbul. It was built in 1960 with the stones brought from Mardin where the head church of Suryanis is located. 
  

Anglican Church
It was also called Crimean church. It was built between 1858-68 in memory of British soldiers who had participated in the Crimean War. All stones used in construction were brought from Malta. It is in Neo-Gothic in style. 
  



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Paul

Paul was born in Tarsus, southern part of Turkey, close to Mediterrenean ( it is told this city used to be on the shore ). His date of birth is placed by the scholars between 1 AD and 6th AD. He was named after Saul, the first king of Israel. He came from a rich and powerful Jewish family. His father or his relatives obtained the Roman citizenship and full civil rights of the city of Tarsus.

 Educated by his mother and his father during his early years, Paul was sent to Jerusalem for further studies and studied at the academy of Gameliel, one of the most respected Jewish teachers. During the early years, he took action against Christians and took part in their persecutions. His name spread all over the Roman world and created fear. His life totally changed after his vision when Christ appeared to him on the way to Damascus. Christ appeared to him and said:

"Paul, why you persecute me"

Paul who got blind after his vision, he was healed with the help of one of the disciples. When he returned to Jerusalem great difficulties were waiting for him. Neither Christian nor Jewish believed or trusted him. He returned to his home town, Tarsus. His writings no where indicate that he knew Jesus or his disciples. He left Jerusalem and returned Tarsus during the Christ's ministry and he didn't return to Jerusalem till Jesus' death.

After Saint Barnabas found him in Tarsus and persuaded him to come to Antioch with him, Saint Paul made three great successive journeys which covered big part of Anatolia and Greece. Finally, after his third missionary trip, he was arrested in Jerusalem. Since he wanted to appeal to Caesar, he was taken to Rome. After two years imprisonment in Rome, he was found innocent and was freed.

Paul and Peter were arrested after the great fire of Rome and were blamed for. Peter was crucified up side down on the capitol hill where there is great church of Vatican now. As to Paul, since he was a Roman citizen he was beheaded near Ostia gate in Rome.

 

 

   

Cities visited by Saint Paul  

Tarsus, Antioch on Orantes, Cyprus, Perge, Pisidian Antioch, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Troas, Greece, Ephesus, Miletus, Patara, Myra Cnidos

    Source: geocities.com/oguzbalaban