Ataturk put the beauty of the Hagia Sophia on exhibition for the world to see, but in 2020, Erdogan repurposed the space to display Islam. As a result, a visit hides multiple Christian sacred items once displayed for touring. This write-up will detail the hidden Christianity that the Hagia Sophia now shuns. In January 2024, the status and entrance of the site changed. Before, the balcony was off-limits, but now the ground floor and courtyard are no longer accessible through a normal entrance.
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Searching Below the Surface – Look at unexpected Islamic ideas.
In reading, Searching Below the Surface: A Deeper Look at Covenant and Contract, one expects simple answers to complex issues. However, exploring a much-needed contrast between how the God of the Bible functions in a covenant manner and the Islamic Allah in a contractual way will take the reader into a Scripture dig. The foundations help one to understand marriage as an outcome of these beliefs, leading each of us to discover why biblical marriage is a covenant, not contractual – like Islam.
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Two Forgotten Monuments of Ephesus
In the Ephesus Museum in Vienna, a few items dominate that no longer exist at the ancient site. The Harbor Gymnasium and the Parthian Battle Wall are forgotten monuments that do not appear at the ancient site. Yet, in Vienna, these items dominate the rooms.
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Analyzing the Celsus Library statues in Vienna
The original statues from the Celsus Library now stand in Vienna, far from their ancient home in Ephesus. What can we learn by comparing the statues Vienna displays with what remains at the ancient site? Their journey from Ephesus to Vienna opens a fascinating story about archaeology, empire, and the decisions that shaped what we see today.
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From Ephesus to Vienna: Surprises in the Ephesos Museum
When I planned a visit to Vienna, I had no idea the city was home to a museum dedicated to Ephesus. Having recently walked through the archaeological site of Ephesus myself, I was intrigued when my research kept linking to Vienna and the collections preserved there. Visiting the museum added another dimension to my experience. Seeing artifacts, maps, and statues connected to Ephesus gave me a broader perspective on the ancient city and helped me better understand the archaeological site I had recently explored.
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Dushanbe’s New Tajik Identity
Returning to Dushanbe again, I found a city racing toward modernization. Historic neighborhoods, familiar homes, and cultural landmarks are disappearing as the capital reshapes itself in search of a new Tajik identity.
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Colossians – An Inspired Book for a Small City
The Epistles to the Colossians and Philemon present themselves as divinely inspired writings, not merely personal correspondence. Internally, Paul identifies himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (Col. 1:1), grounding his authority in God’s calling rather than human appointment. He further explains that the gospel and the “mystery” of Christ were revealed by God (Col. 1:26), not discovered through human wisdom.
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Unique Facts about Colossae in light of Archaeology
The 2025 archaeological excavation at Colossae (modern Honaz, Denizli Province, Türkiye) opens the door to one of the few remaining biblical sites in Asia Minor. The primary excavations of this city may create answers to the many mysteries of the book of Colossians. Let’s consider some unique ideas about this ancient city in light of its biblical history.
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