Biblical Tours

Biblical Sites in Turkey

Approximately 60% of the names of the places mentioned in the Bible are in Turkey. Below you can find the list of the most important sacred and religious places in Turkey.

• Akdamar Church - Eastern Anatolia

  

  Akdamar Church or Church of the Holy Cross is a ruined Armenian cathedral in Eastern Anatolia. It is situated on a small island in the beautiful mountain setting of Lake Van, the Akdamar church dates from the 10th century. The Church of the Holy Cross was once an important Armenian cathedral.
  
  he Church of the Holy Cross was the seat of an Armenian patriarch from 1116 to 1895, after which it was abandoned due to conflict between Armenia and the Ottoman Empire. The cathedral was restored by the Turkish government beginning in May 2005.

• Alaeddin Mosque - Konya

  

  The Alaeddin Mosque (also spelled Alaettin) is the largest and oldest mosque in Konya, constructed by the Seljuk Sultan of Rum in 1221. The Alaeddin Mosque has some interesting architectural features, such as columns of different sizes and decorations incorporated from different periods. The interior includes a tomb chamber with the sarcophagi of a dozen Seljuk sultans.

• Antioch

  

  Antioch is the place where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. In the later history of Antioch, 10 assemblies of the church were held there, and it became the residence of Patriarch of Asia.

• Aphrodisias

  

  Aphrodisias is one of the oldest sacred places in Turkey, it is dedicated to the Mother Goddess Aphrodite, it was the site of a magnificent Temple of Aphrodite. Aphrodisias also offers ruins of a large theater, a stadium and other structures, as well as an on-site museum displaying artifacts.

• Basilica of St. John - Ephesus

  

  The Basilica of St. John was a great church in Ephesus. It stands over the believed burial site of St. John, who is identified as the apostle, evangelist, author of the Fourth Gospel and Revelation, and prophet.

• Blue Mosque - Istanbul

  

  The Sultanahmet Mosque (better known as the "Blue Mosque") is located Istanbul. In the 17th century, Sultan Ahmet I wished to build an Islamic place of worship that would be even better than the Hagia Sophia, and the mosque named for him is the result.
  
  The two great architectural achievements now stand next to each other in Istanbul's main square. One of the most notable features of the Blue Mosque is its six minarets. This is very unique, as most mosques have four, two, or just one minaret.

• Cave Church of St. Peter - Antioch

  

  The Cave Church of St. Peter (also the Grotto of St. Peter) is an ancient cave church with a stone facade, located outside Antioch in modern Antakya, Turkey. This cave is believed to have been dug by the Apostle Peter himself as a place for the early Christian community of Antioch to meet, and thus to be the very first Christian church.

• Cave of the Seven Sleepers - Ephesus

  

  The Cave of the Seven Sleepers is located about .8km away from Ephesus. The "Seven Sleepers" were seven young men who hide themselves in a cave during the persecutions against the Christians (c.250).
  They fell asleep, miraculously waking up around 435 in the time of Theodosius II. The seven men wandered into the city of Ephesus, watching surprised at all the churches and the freedom of worship for Christians. The Sleepers later died naturally and were buried in the cave in which they had slept.

• Church of St. Nicholas - Myra

  

  The Church of St. Nicholas in ancient Myra (modern Kale or Demre) is a ruined Byzantine church containing the tomb of St. Nicholas of Myra.

• Didyma - Western Anatolia

  

  The Church of St. Nicholas in ancient Myra (modern Kale or Demre) is a ruined Byzantine church containing the tomb of St. Nicholas of Myra.

• Fatih Mosque - Istanbul

  

  The Fatih Mosque in Istanbul is important because of its resident, Mehmet the Conqueror (Fatih Mehmet). The Fatih Mosque was constructed between 1462 and 1470 by Sultan Fatih Mehmet ("Mehmet the Conqueror"; 1432-81), who took Constantinople in 1453.

• Grotto of St. Paul - Ephesus

  

  The Grotto of St. Paul or Cave of St. Paul is a cave in Ephesus that contains important Early Christian frescoes and inscriptions. The Grotto of St Paul has been a Christian sacred site since the 1st or 2nd century. Possibly associated with a legend of St Pauls ministry in Ephesus.

• Hagia Sophia- Istanbul

  

  The Grotto of St. Paul or Cave of St. Paul is a cave in Ephesus that contains important Early Christian frescoes and inscriptions. The Grotto of St Paul has been a Christian sacred site since the 1st or 2nd century. Possibly associated with a legend of St Pauls ministry in Ephesus.