And the journey continues ...

Today we made a very long trip from Ankara to Ürküp ... a seven hour trip in the coach! We began the day with the celebration of the Eucharist at the Catholic Parish of Ankara. It is the only Christian parish in the whole city! Other Christian denominations use this church for their weekly services, as there is no other church! I really admire those priests (in this case the Jesuits) who offer themselves to serve the Church in these very difficult circumstances. Their main ministry is one of presence and witness, most of the time in silence!
Paul visited this city during his second missionary trip according to Acts 16,6. This is the region which is referred to as Galatia. Although there are some discussions among biblical scholars, it seems that the Letter to the Galatians is addressed to the Christian communities of this northern part of Asia Minor. Even the first letter of Peter mentions this Christian community (1,1).
From here we traveled to Hattusa, which is a very important site related to the ancient Hittite people, mentioned several times in the Old Testament (see, for example, Uriah the Hittite in 2 Sam 11-2-27 -- he is the husband of Batsheba, with whom David committed adultery). The occupation of this site began toward the close of the Early Bronze Age (ca. 2200 BC), first by the Hatti and later by the Hittites. In the Museum of Ankara we got to see some specimen of the great culture of this people. I am uploading a couple of pictures of their work. The fortification at Hattusa continued to confirm this. When I learn about some ancient civilizations, I become more aware of how far behind we are sometimes ... and we think we have reached the sky!!!
Now we are in this city of Ürküp, at the centre of the Cappadocia region. This is a region where monasticism has flourished. It is also the birthplace for three great Fathers of the Church, known precisely as the Cappadocians: St Basil the Great (or of Caesarea), St Gregory Nazianzen and St Gregory of Nyssa.
This also the region linked to the story of St George the Martyr.

Some jewellery coming from the Hittite period ... all handmade! How precious!

The Sundisk ... this became the symbol of the Hittites. They used them during their rituals.