St. John Church

One of the 12 apostles, the most beloved and the youngest… Hz. St. John, also known as St. John, to whom Jesus entrusted his mother. John Theologos lived here, wrote the Gospel here, and even died here. St. John, who is known to have come to Ephesus in 37-38 years, tried to spread the Christian faith in Ephesus and added new believers to his congregation. St. Paulus stayed in Ephesus for a while and then left. St. John, who started to preach the Gospel with St. Pertus in 67 BC, was tried to be killed twice by the emperor of the time, Domitianus, and he miraculously survived both of them.

St John, who was exiled to Patmos Island in 81, returned to Ephesus in 95. Saint John, who spent his last years in Ephesus (Ayasuluk Hill), wrote the Bible and letters named after him here. He died here at the age of about 100 and was buried on Ayasuluk Hill according to his will.

In 300 years, when Christianity began to spread, a Martyrion (Mausoleum) was built on his grave. Fifty years later, although this mausoleum was enclosed in a wooden roofed basilica (350 years ago), it became unusable due to earthquakes at the beginning of the 6th century. Between 527-565, a new domed church with a cross plan was built by Emperor Justinianus and his wife Theodora instead of this basilica. After the people of Ephesus moved completely to Ayasuluk after the 7th century, St. Jean Church was accepted as a pilgrimage church, replacing the old Episcopal church in Ephesus.

In St. John's Church, which has been considered a very important pilgrimage center for the Orthodox community since then, rituals are held here in the spiritual presence of St. John, according to the Christian faith, on May 8 (Saints Feast) every year.