Here we are in Phrygia

Days are passing quickly and we continue to move to the East of Turkey. This morning we left Konya and drove to Antioch of Pisidia, which today is known as Yalvaç. With its situation close to the main commercial road which takes from Ephesus to the East, it enjoyed great prosperity. There was also an important Jewish community.

Paul visited this community together with Barnabas on his first missionary journey towards the year 47 AD. On Saturday, following their arrival, they went to the Synagogue and were asked whether they wanted to speak. The discourse of Paul on that occasion, as referred by the Acts of the Apostles, is a great example of the preaching of the Apostle of the Gentiles (see Acts 13, 14-52). It seems that Paul and Barnabas remained in this city for about a year.

Here we visited the remains of the old city of Antioch of Pisidia. Excavation work is still being done on the site. One particular element which struck my attention is the ancient church dedicated to St Paul. The apse of the basilica is visible. We were also told that there are many mosaics that have been covered again to be better preserved! 

Although it is not completely certain it seems that the baptistery – which is beside the church – was formerly a place where the Jews used to do their ablutions while the church was built on the site where the synagogue was. If this were true, then we would have the place where Paul would have done his discourse on that Saturday in the Synagogue.

Then we continued on our way (another three hours of coach) to Pamukkale, where the Hierapolis (meaning “holy city”) is found. On our way we saw the place where the cities of Colosai and Laodicea were located. St Paul writes a letter to the Colossians while in the Book of Revelation one of the letters to the Seven Churches is written specifically to the community found in Laodicea (3,14-22). Prof. Uggeri described to us how this letter is really addressing the particular community it is addressed to. First, these vicinities are known for their thermal waters. Thus, when they are told “you are neither cold nor hot”, they knew exactly what was meant. Secondly, they claim that “they are rich” but they are told to buy from the Lord “gold refined by fire”. The people here were very rich and they had many gold coins, specific to the city. Thirdly, the reference to “white garments” is very appropriate to people who were known for cloth dyeing. Finally, the author refers to the “anointing their eyes, that you may see”. Again, this was very appropriate since the city of Laodicea was known for their eye specialists, sought after throughout the Roman Empire.

We visited then the Hierapolis which is very famous worldwide for its warm thermal waters. In antiquity, it seems that its importance is to be connected both with its thermal waters and with its industries. The philosopher Epithet was born here between the year 50 and 60 after Christ. The local community was the fruit of the work of Epaphra, a disciple of Paul (see Col 4,13).

Hierapolis is also connected to the St Philip. Eusebius of Caesarea speaks of this Philip who with his four daughters, gifted with the prophetic charism, were hosted here. It is still not clear whether here we are speaking of the Apostle or of the ‘deacon’ (see Acts 6,5). Some months ago, the University of Lecce found what is assumed to be tomb of Philip in the Hierapolis, just some meters away from a beautiful Martyrion of St Philip.

Also of major interest here is an epigraphy which was brought to light in 1883 written by a person called, Abercius, who would have been the bishop here. It dates back to the end of the 2^nd Century. This inscription would be the most ancient mention on rock of the Eucharist.

The Apse of St Paul Church in Antioch of Pisidia

A source of the thermal waters in Hierapolis