Turkey Tours with Magnificent TravelDenizli Pamukkale Faith Tourism

Denizli Pamukkale Faith Tourism

HISTORY OF LYCUS VALLEY

According to archeological data, the first settlement in Lycus Valley appeared in the Chalcolithic Era (5500-3000 BC). Important Western Anatolian samples from the Chalcolithic Era were found in Civril - Beycesultan by the English Archeology Institute in 1954-1959. They are very important documents for Anatolian History. Those samples are exhibited in the Pamukkale Archeological Museum.

The settlement continued uninterrupted in the valley during the Bronze Age (3000-1200 BC). Hittite sovereignty lasted from 2000-1200 B.C. After the Hittite Empire was conquered, the valley fell under the sovereignty of Phrygians (750-545 BC) and Lydians (700-545 BC). The valley was under Persian sovereignty from 545-333 B.C. The Hellenistic Period started with the Issus War when the Persian King was defeated by Alexander the Great in 333 BC. Attalos III bequeathed that the Kingdom of Pergamos (the same as Pergamum or Pergamon) be left to the Roman Emperor. The Roman Period started in 133 BC and the region started to be directed by proconsuls in 129 B.C. But the real Roman Period started under Caesar Augustus (27 BC- 14 AD) and lasted until the last Emperor Theodosius (378-395 AD). The Roman Empire was divided in 395 A.D. The Byzantine Period started after 395 AD and lasted until 1200 A.D. During the 11th century, Turkish attacks (especially in 1071 at the Battle of Malazgirt) began to open the way into Anatolia. Selcuk sovereignty lasted until 1400 and Ottoman sovereignty lasted until 1923.

New cities were founded in the Hellenistic Period. These include Laodicea (Goncalı-Eskihisar), founded in the middle of the third century BC, Hierapolis (Pamukkale) founded in the early second century, Tripolis which is on the north in Menderes River's court (Yenicekent-Buldan), Attouda (Hisarköy), Trapezopolis (Boludüzü-Bekirler Köyü), Hydriale (Sığma Kasabası) and Karura (Tekkeköy).

Laodicea is located in the center of the whole Lycus Region. The city was the meeting point of roads coming from north, south, east and west.
Cities of the Lycus Valley were more important than other cities in the Roman Period, even though they were from the center, because the main road which went east was very important to the Emperor. The valley was also very important for Christians. Christianity spread to Anatolia from these cities.

The Lycus Valley was an important communications center for traffic coming from the east.
Besides Laodicea, Hierapolis was also a metropolis during the Byzantine Period. Both cities were very important religiously and socially and also because of their original apostolic ties.

As far as writing is concerned, the valley was using Greek characters in both the Hellenistic and Roman Periods. Latin was used only on coins and in official correspondence.

The cities of the valley reached high levels of communication, commerce and religious activity in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods. But in the 4th century AD, the cities lost their importance on the highways. Especially after the 7th century, their names were hardly even mentioned any more. The cities situated on the coast lines, like Ephesus and Smyrna, fared better than the cities situated west of Phrygia (as in the Lycus Valley). The cities of the Lycus Valley generally experienced a decrease in their economic, cultural and social life. Although in 5th century AD Hierapolis again became a metropolis and the biggest church of Anatolia, called St. Michael's, was built in Colossae-Khonai, in general these improvements did not impact the Lycus Valley.

CHRISTIANITY IN THE LYCUS VALLEY : Likus Vadisinde Hristiyanlık By the time of Jesus' birth, Augustus had been emperor for over 20 years and was still at the peak his power. Meanwhile the eastern part of the world was at peace. When we look at the philosophical thoughts and religious beliefs in Augustus' period, it can be easily seen that the system of the thoughts in the era had a big influence on the spread of Christianity.
The ancient Greek religion was a belief system which fundamentally worshipped gods who were male and female. Changes in social life during the Hellenistic Period provided a smooth preparation period for Christianity. In this period gods were humanized and even criticized. During the period of the Roman Empire, emperors like Augustus began to be deified, resulting in some opposing philosophical opinions in society. According to this philosophy, gods were immortal, healthy, young and aware of everything, but the emperor was ill, old and he died. While the people in the upper class were living in pleasure and freedom, the people in the lower class were all poor and had difficulties just living, so they began to look for a new religion. The new religion appeared with Jesus bringing respect, love, peace and equality for all people, along with monotheism.

Christianity began to spread in Jerusalem. This spread developed rapidly in the first century after Jesus' death. The new religion spread with surprising speed in Syria and Anatolia. By the year 60 AD, it had already reached Rome, the capital city of the empire. In this period, Christianity was not limited to crowded cities, but also spread among the villages of agricultural societies. When Plinius became the governor of Bithynia (Bursa), he pointed out with surprise that there was a great desire for Christianity while paganism was disgraced in the villages.

St. Paul was the most important missionary contributing to the rapid growth of Christianity in the first century. However, St. Paul was not one of the twelve apostles, moreover he had never seen Jesus before Jesus' death (although he writes in the book of Galatians that he received his gospel though a revelation from Christ after Christ's resurrection). It may not be wrong to say that he had a more important role than the gospel writers, St. John, Mark, Luke, and Matthew, and also more than the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist.
St. Paul, who spread Christianity in Syria, Cyprus, Anatolia, Macedonia, Greece and eventually Rome, was born in Tarsus as a son of a Jewish father and grew up there. His family gained the right of Roman citizenship.

St. Paul started churches in Syria, Anatolia and Greece for about 20 years. St. Paul made 4 important journeys to Anatolia of which the last was to Rome to spread Christianity. According to Eusebius, Paul was executed by beheading in Rome just next to the cathedral in the Vatican where St. Peter was crucified. The Fontane, the place where Paul was martyred, is via Ostiensis. This place was a small place of prayer during the reign of Constantine the Great. A large basilica was built in 384 AD called San Paolo Fuori le Mura.

The first signs of Christianity in the Lycus Valley were seen in the years between 40 and 50 A.D. At first, this new religion spread among the Jews in Hierapolis, Laodicea and Colossae. Because of the rights that the Jewish community had gained, they had already reached the peak point in commerce and art. There must have been a synagogue of the Jewish people that had great power and rights especially in Laodicea. Future excavations in this region may further clarify this. On the other hand, six-armed candlesticks and six pointed stars and other figures have already been found in tombs at Hierapolis. As far as we can tell from inscriptions on tombs, the Jewish community had controlled the commercial affairs in this region for a long time.
According to the New Testament letter of Colossians, Christianity in the Lycus Valley was initially spread by Epaphras, a co-worker of St. Paul. The letter of Colossians, carried by Tychicus and Onesimus, also contained greetings from Epaphras, St. Paul, and Paul's fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, to Christians in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Paul greeted the believers at Colossae warmly saying, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father." (Colossians 1:1-2 NIV). He closed the letter saying, "I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you."

Several of Paul's letters, which are found in the Bible, were sent to believers living in what is now the Republic of Turkey. They contain teachings about God and about how people should treat each other. Emphasizing that there should be no discrimination, Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Similarly, Colossians 3:11-12 say, "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

This new religion of love, joy and peace spread among the people despite the threat of persecution from the Roman Empire. Christians suffered a great deal of torture until 324 AD, the official date of the approval of Christianity by Constantine the Great.

However, the Laodiceans received a warning, as well as an encouragement, from the risen Christ in Revelation 3:14-22. "… I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth…. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (NIV)

CHRISTIANITY IN THE LYCUS VALLEY :

By the time of Jesus' birth, Augustus had been emperor for over 20 years and was still at the peak his power. Meanwhile the eastern part of the world was at peace. When we look at the philosophical thoughts and religious beliefs in Augustus' period, it can be easily seen that the system of the thoughts in the era had a big influence on the spread of Christianity. The ancient Greek religion was a belief system which fundamentally worshipped gods who were male and female. Changes in social life during the Hellenistic Period provided a smooth preparation period for Christianity. In this period gods were humanized and even criticized. During the period of the Roman Empire, emperors like Augustus began to be deified, resulting in some opposing philosophical opinions in society. According to this philosophy, gods were immortal, healthy, young and aware of everything, but the emperor was ill, old and he died. While the people in the upper class were living in pleasure and freedom, the people in the lower class were all poor and had difficulties just living, so they began to look for a new religion. The new religion appeared with Jesus bringing respect, love, peace and equality for all people, along with monotheism. Christianity began to spread in Jerusalem. This spread developed rapidly in the first century after Jesus' death. The new religion spread with surprising speed in Syria and Anatolia. By the year 60 AD, it had already reached Rome, the capital city of the empire. In this period, Christianity was not limited to crowded cities, but also spread among the villages of agricultural societies. When Plinius became the governor of Bithynia (Bursa), he pointed out with surprise that there was a great desire for Christianity while paganism was disgraced in the villages. St. Paul was the most important missionary contributing to the rapid growth of Christianity in the first century. However, St. Paul was not one of the twelve apostles, moreover he had never seen Jesus before Jesus' death (although he writes in the book of Galatians that he received his gospel though a revelation from Christ after Christ's resurrection). It may not be wrong to say that he had a more important role than the gospel writers, St. John, Mark, Luke, and Matthew, and also more than the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. St. Paul, who spread Christianity in Syria, Cyprus, Anatolia, Macedonia, Greece and eventually Rome, was born in Tarsus as a son of a Jewish father and grew up there. His family gained the right of Roman citizenship. St. Paul started churches in Syria, Anatolia and Greece for about 20 years. St. Paul made 4 important journeys to Anatolia of which the last was to Rome to spread Christianity. According to Eusebius, Paul was executed by beheading in Rome just next to the cathedral in the Vatican where St. Peter was crucified. The Fontane, the place where Paul was martyred, is via Ostiensis. This place was a small place of prayer during the reign of Constantine the Great. A large basilica was built in 384 AD called San Paolo Fuori le Mura. The first signs of Christianity in the Lycus Valley were seen in the years between 40 and 50 A.D. At first, this new religion spread among the Jews in Hierapolis, Laodicea and Colossae. Because of the rights that the Jewish community had gained, they had already reached the peak point in commerce and art. There must have been a synagogue of the Jewish people that had great power and rights especially in Laodicea. Future excavations in this region may further clarify this. On the other hand, six-armed candlesticks and six pointed stars and other figures have already been found in tombs at Hierapolis. As far as we can tell from inscriptions on tombs, the Jewish community had controlled the commercial affairs in this region for a long time. According to the New Testament letter of Colossians, Christianity in the Lycus Valley was initially spread by Epaphras, a co-worker of St. Paul. The letter of Colossians, carried by Tychicus and Onesimus, also contained greetings from Epaphras, St. Paul, and Paul's fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, to Christians in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis. Paul greeted the believers at Colossae warmly saying, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father." (Colossians 1:1-2 NIV). He closed the letter saying, "I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you." Several of Paul's letters, which are found in the Bible, were sent to believers living in what is now the Republic of Turkey. They contain teachings about God and about how people should treat each other. Emphasizing that there should be no discrimination, Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Similarly, Colossians 3:11-12 say, "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." This new religion of love, joy and peace spread among the people despite the threat of persecution from the Roman Empire. Christians suffered a great deal of torture until 324 AD, the official date of the approval of Christianity by Constantine the Great. However, the Laodiceans received a warning, as well as an encouragement, from the risen Christ in Revelation 3:14-22. "… I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth…. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (NIV)

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