When touring the ancient site of Ephesus in Selçuk, Turkey, one can observe the different stages of church development. Unfortunately, many tourists often miss the cues that show the church’s growth in this remarkable ancient site. Let’s look at what remains of the churches of Ephesus.
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Ephesus and the Challenge to Early Christianity: Domitian, Celsus, and Hadrian
In the ancient Ephesian site, three historic characters dominate the ruins, who historically persecuted and hated Christians. Domitian, the emperor of Rome, saw Christians as anti-Roman and sought to establish himself as the ultimate king and lord. While many think that Celsus and Hadrian spoke out against the church’s influence. However, today, a visit to Ephesus promotes these characters, whom most people do not know, and their history with Christians. Let’s take a closer look.
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Discovering the Ephesus’ Re-purposed Sites for Churches
Biblical history promotes Ephesus as a significant location where Christianity spread. Many tours focus on Roman and Greek influences but do not mention the last 500 years or more, during which the city became a dominant Christian center. The conversion of the Ephesians transformed the city from a pagan center to a thriving Christian community. A visit to Ephesus provides a unique glimpse into how early believers repurposed civic or religious spaces for Christian worship. This ancient city hosts a dozen or more repurposed Christian sites.
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