St Johns Basilica

🕍 St. John’s Basilica – The Sacred Tomb of an Apostle

📍 Location: Selcuk, Turkey
⏳ Built: 6th Century AD
🛐 Significance: Believed to be the burial site of St. John the Apostle
🏛️ Current Condition: Partially reconstructed ruins

📜 Why is St. John’s Basilica Important?
✅ Built over the believed tomb of St. John, one of Jesus’ 12 Apostles.
✅ Commissioned by Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century AD.
✅ A major pilgrimage site for early Christians.
✅ Once one of the largest churches in the Byzantine Empire.
✅ Converted into a mosque in the 1330s & later destroyed by the Mongols in 1402.

🏛️ The History of St. John’s Basilica
🔹 1st Century AD: St. John (the disciple of Jesus) is believed to have lived and died in Ephesus. His tomb became a pilgrimage site for early Christians.

🔹 6th Century AD: Byzantine Emperor Justinian I ordered a grand basilica to be built over St. John’s tomb, creating one of the largest churches in the world at the time.

🔹 7th-9th Century AD: Arab raids damaged the basilica, but it remained a major religious center.

🔹 1330s: The region fell under Seljuk Turkish rule, and the basilica was converted into a mosque.

🔹 1402: The Mongols invaded, completely destroying the basilica.

🔹 Present Day: Partial reconstructions allow visitors to visualize the grand scale of the original structure.

🕍 Architectural Highlights of St. John’s Basilica
📌 The Entrance & Layout
✔️ You enter from the southern side, where brick foundations & partially reconstructed marble walls give a sense of its grand scale.
✔️ If fully restored, it would be the 7th-largest church in the world!

📜 St. John’s Tomb
✔️ The believed burial site of St. John is located under the main dome.
✔️ Christian pilgrims have visited the site for centuries.

⛪ The Baptistery & Chapel
✔️ A recent excavation revealed a baptistery & chapel.
✔️ Inside, beautiful saintly depictions & frescoes were discovered.

🔹 The Columns & Domes
✔️ Originally, the basilica had six grand domes supported by massive marble columns.
✔️ The ruins give an idea of the basilica’s immense size & importance.

🏰 Nearby Attractions
🏰 Ayasuluk Castle (Just Beside St. John’s Basilica!)
✔️ An Ottoman-era fortress that overlooks the town of Selçuk.
✔️ Offers stunning panoramic views of the entire Ephesus region.

🕌 Isabey Mosque
✔️ Built in 1375, one of the oldest & most stunning mosques in Turkey.
✔️ Features a blend of Seljuk & Ottoman architecture.

🏛️ Ephesus Ancient City
✔️ Just a short drive away, Ephesus is one of the most well-preserved Roman cities in the world.

🏠 Virgin Mary’s House
✔️ A major pilgrimage site, believed to be where Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her last years.

🚗 How to Get to St. John’s Basilica
✈️ By Air: Fly into Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB), then drive 1 hour to Selcuk.
🚂 By Train: Regular trains from Izmir to Selcuk.
🚍 By Bus: Frequent buses from Istanbul, Izmir & other major Turkish cities.
🚗 By Car: Easily accessible from Izmir, Kusadasi & Ephesus.

📌 Why Visit St. John’s Basilica?
✅ A major biblical & historical site.
✅ Believed to be the burial place of St. John, one of Jesus’ apostles.
✅ A grand Byzantine structure commissioned by Emperor Justinian I.
✅ Located near other must-visit sites like Ephesus, Ayasuluk Castle & Virgin Mary’s House.

📌 Visiting St. John’s Basilica is a must for history lovers, pilgrims & archaeology enthusiasts!