In several of the cities connected with the Seven Churches of Asia Minor, archaeological excavation has been limited. Because of this, our knowledge of the early Christian material culture in these places is incomplete. Many ancient layers remain underground, and only small areas have been carefully studied. As a result, historians and archaeologists must rely not only on physical remains but also on written sources such as the Bible and early Christian texts.
At sites where excavations have uncovered church buildings, none of these structures dates earlier than the mid-fourth century. Most of the churches that survive today probably belong to the period of the Byzantine emperor Constantius II, who ruled between 337 and 361 CE. He was the son of Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to openly support Christianity Jeep Safari Bulgaria.
Early Christian Worship Practices
It is possible that churches existed before the fourth century, but if so, they were likely destroyed during earlier periods of persecution. One of the most severe persecutions of Christians began in 303 CE, under the Roman emperor Diocletian. During this time, churches were demolished, sacred books were burned, and many believers were imprisoned or executed.
Because of these dangers, early Christians often did not worship in large public buildings. Instead, they gathered in private houses, known today as house churches. In some areas, they may also have met in caves, grottos, or open-air locations, especially in rural settings. These types of meeting places leave very little archaeological evidence, which explains why so few remains from this early period have survived.
Development After Legalization of Christianity
After Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire in the early fourth century, conditions changed dramatically. Christians were finally free to build large churches in prominent locations. As a result, most of the church ruins visible today belong to this later period, when Christianity had official support and greater resources Introduction.
These later churches often replaced earlier structures or were built over former pagan sites. This practice symbolized the triumph of Christianity but also made it difficult to find traces of the earliest Christian communities.
Structure and Method of This Book
Following the general historical introduction of the region, important background information is briefly repeated in the section devoted to each city. This approach allows readers to understand each site independently, even if they do not read the book from beginning to end.
When historical names appear for the first time, their Turkish equivalents are given in parentheses. The names of rulers and the dates of their reigns are also provided to help readers place events in their historical context.
Use of Dates and Biblical Texts
All quotations from the Bible in this book are taken from the New American Bible, 1987 edition, published in Nashville, USA. These quotations are printed in italics to clearly distinguish them from the main text.
Dates that are not marked as BCE (Before the Common Era) refer to the Common Era (CE), also known as AD. This system is used throughout the book for clarity and consistency.
A Broader Historical Context
The long history of Anatolia is also reflected through objects such as gold jewelry from Troy II, dating to approximately 2600–2450 BCE, now displayed in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. These artifacts remind us that the lands of the Seven Churches were already culturally rich thousands of years before Christianity emerged.
