Cappadocia, Turkey (2) : early Christainity

Many of you recognize Turkey as part of the Islamic world.  There are many beautiful mosques and Islamic architectures over the country.  Since the Ottoman Turks took over Constantinople in 1453 A.D., Turkey formed part of the Ottoman Empire and the Islamic world.


Early Christianity also took roots in Turkey.  We were told that Saint John wrote his Gospel in Ephesus, Turkey.  In Cappadocia, there were three great Christian theologians, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory of Nazianzus.  They made significant contribution to the early development of Christianity.  If you are interested to learn more about their teaching, you can read Meredith, Anthony. The Cappadocians. New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1995.

Early Christians built many rock chapels in Cappadocia.   Chapels and monasteries were carved out of the hillsides.  


(Rock chapel and monastery in Goreme, Cappadocia)

 In you are in Cappadocia, try to see the Tokali Chapel (or the Church of the Buckle) and the Elmali Chapel (or called the Apple Church).  They were built around 10th ~ 11th A.D. in Goreme.  They have now been restored and become part of the tourist attractions. 

These chapels reminded me of the Mogao Caves (also known as Caves of the Thousand Buddhas) in Dunhuang, China.  Buddhist monks and pilgrims also built these temples from hillsides from 4th ~ 14th A.D. 


(Outside the Mogao caves)