Biblical Sites in Turkey

Turkey, once home to numerous ancient civilizations, has been mentioned many times throughout the Bible. This crossroads between Europe and Asia is rich with historical and Biblical Sites in Turkey, some of which are:

Ephesus Turkey: one of the biblical sites in Turkey

An ancient city located in what is now western Turkey, Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament. It’s famous for being the city where Saint Paul wrote his Letter to the Ephesians. Ephesus Turkey is also traditionally to be the last residence of the Virgin Mary. This ancient city is mentioned in the Book of Acts and in the Book of Revelation. It is also to be the city where the apostle John lived. The ruins of Ephesus include the Celsus Library, the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), and the Terraced Houses.

Seven Churches of Revelation- Biblical Sites in Turkey

The seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation—Ephesus, Smyrna (now Izmir), Pergamon, Thyatira (now Akhisar), Sardis, Philadelphia (now Alaşehir), and Laodicea—are all located in modern-day Turkey.

Cappadocia- Biblical Sites in Turkey

Famous for its unique geological features and ancient Christian cave churches, Cappadocia was in the New Testament in the Acts of the Apostles. The area became a refuge for early Christians escaping Roman persecution.

Antioch (Antakya)

This city is where followers of Jesus were first called “Christians”. It also served as a base for Saint Paul‘s missionary journeys. The Church of Saint Peter, a cave carved into Mount Starius, is famous to be where Peter preached and established the Christian community.

Tarsus

The birthplace of Saint Paul, Tarsus is a significant biblical site. Today, you can visit Saint Paul’s Well, believed to be the location of the apostle’s family home.

Mount Ararat:

While not accessible for climbing due to its location near the border, Mount Ararat is historically significant as the purported resting place of Noah’s Ark.

Exploring these biblical sites in Turkey offers an incredibly unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of biblical figures and delve into the rich tapestry of Christian history. It’s a spiritual and historical journey that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.

If you are into history, You should read our blogs about Gobekli Tepe, Karahan Tepe and Boncuklu Tarla!