The most prominent of the Seven Churches (Rev 2:1-7), praised for its works but rebuked for losing its first love. Paul spent ~3 years here (Acts 19), preached in the synagogue and hall of Tyrannus, and wrote Ephesians. It was a major center for early Christianity. Tradition holds that the Apostle John lived here, wrote his Gospel, and that he brought the Virgin Mary to the nearby house (John 19:26-27). The tour includes the well-preserved ruins, Library of Celsus, theater (where the riot over Artemis occurred in Acts 19), and St. John’s Basilica.
The Church of Ephesus is the most important of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. It is thought that the Gospel of John was written. Paul was in Ephasus at least two times.
- His First Visit (Second Journey): Paul briefly stopped in Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila, preaching in the synagogue but staying for a limited time (Acts 18:19–21).
- Second Visit (Third Journey): Paul returned to Ephesus for a total of nearly three years (over two years teaching in the school of Tyrannus, according to), making it a central hub for his ministry in Asia Minor (Acts 19).
- Final Meeting: Paul later met with the Ephesian elders at Miletus on his way to Jerusalem, as he did not return to the city himself (Acts 20).
The House of the Virgin Mary is a small, modest stone house situated in the forest on the side of a mountain, approximately 9 km from Ephesus. St. John brought Mary to Ephesus, following Jesus Christ’s advice to his mother (John 19:27). And she spent her last years in this house.
The Temple of Artemis is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
St. John’s Church was built on the site of the tomb of Saint John by Byzantine Emperor Justinian and his wife, Theodora, in 565 A.D.
Turkish Rug Making Tour
We toured a Turkish Rug Making School sponsored by the Turkish Ministry of Education. We saw how they extract the silk from the moth cocoon to weaving and the special turkish knot using wool, cotton and silk.
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