A part of ancient Sardis still remains hidden underground. One section of the city has not yet been excavated and lies about two metres below the Roman road, close to the gymnasium complex. This reminds us that much of Sardis is still waiting to be uncovered and studied. Beneath the visible ruins, there may be more buildings connected with the religious, social, and daily life of the city.
The Letter to the Church in Sardis
In the Book of Revelation, St John addresses a strong and serious message to the church in Sardis Sofia Day Tours. The letter begins as follows:
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write this:
‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this:
I know your works; you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Be watchful and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God.
Remember how you received and heard; keep it, and repent.
If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.
The victor will be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but I will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
Whoever has ears should hear what the Spirit says to the churches Croesus and the Persian Threat.’”
(Revelation 3:1–6)
Symbols in the Letter
At the beginning of the message, Jesus is described as the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. The seven spirits symbolize the full and perfect Spirit of God, showing divine authority and completeness. The seven stars represent the angels or messengers of the Seven Churches. This introduction emphasizes that Christ sees everything and has power over both the spiritual and earthly condition of the churches.
A Church with a Name but No Life
St John’s message to Sardis is sudden and harsh. The church is accused of having a reputation for being alive, while in reality it is spiritually dead. This suggests that the church may have appeared successful from the outside but lacked true faith and commitment inside.
The Christians of Sardis seem to have given in to temptation. These temptations may have included apostasy, the teachings of false prophets, participation in the imperial cult, or simply living the Christian faith without true conviction. As a result, the church had lost its spiritual strength and existed only in name.
A Warning Drawn from History
St John warns the church to wake up and repent. If it does not, punishment will come suddenly and without warning. This image strongly recalls the history of Sardis itself. The city’s mighty citadel, believed to be impossible to conquer, was taken by surprise at night—first by Cyrus the Great and later by Antiochus III. In both cases, the defenders were careless and unprepared.
In the same way, the church is warned that judgment may arrive like a thief in the night, while people are unaware and spiritually asleep.
The Faithful Few and the Promise of Hope
Despite the strong criticism, the message ends with hope. A small group in Sardis has not “soiled their garments”, meaning they have remained faithful. They are promised to walk with Christ dressed in white, a symbol of purity, victory, and eternal life.
Their names will remain in the Book of Life, and Christ himself will acknowledge them before God. This promise shows that even in a spiritually weak church, faithfulness is seen and rewarded.
Archaeological Evidence of Christian Life
Christian history in Sardis is also reflected in archaeology. A marble font, made from reused materials, was found in the Byzantine shops near the synagogue. These shops may later have served as a baptistry. The Christian crosses carved on the stone were placed over earlier pagan inscriptions, symbolizing the transition from pagan belief to Christianity.
