Pilgrimages

Although Christianity has its roots in the Middle East, it became a world religion in Asia Minor. After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, most of his apostles came to Anatolia. Thus Peter founded the first Christian church in Antioch on the Orontes. Apostle Paul led all his journeys through Anatolia. According to conjectures, Apostle John came to Western Anatolia together with Mother Mary. It is possible that the tomb of Mother Mary is near Ephesus.

The first empire that made Christianity a state religion was established in East Anatolia. The first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine the Great, who opened the way for Christianity to become the world religion, ruled in Istanbul with the name of Constantinople at that time. The seven churches of Revelation in the Bible are all in western Anatolia. The first and all of the seven Ecumenical Councils that laid the foundation for Christian dogma were held in Anatolia. The most famous saints such as St. Nicholas or most of the 14 emergency saints had lived and worked here.

Many events narrated in the Old Testament happened here in Asia Minor. Traveling through Anatolia, one can admire Ararat, Edessa and Haran and visit the cities of Abraham. An important part of the history of the Crusades, which had their consequences in the Orient as well as in the Occident, was also experienced here.

When the Catholic bishops of Turkey made their ad limina visit to Rome in 1994, the Pope called Anatolia “a holy land of the early Church.” In 1998, the Pontifical Council for People on the Move held its 5th International Congress for Pastoral Tourism in Ephesus. Cardinal Cheli justified the venue in his letter of invitation by saying that Anatolia was chosen because of its extraordinary importance for the history of Christianity. Just as Palestine is the land of Jesus, Anatolia is the land of the Church.

Here in this land you will come closer to the origins of Christianity physically and spiritually. We invite you to Anatolia; visit the sites of Paul’s journeys, the churches of the Apocalypse, the meeting places of the first seven Ecumenical Councils and experience Istanbul, the ancient Constantinople with its over 100 churches.