Pamukkale... Wait, what is that?

Tourist walking on the Calcium. Dr. Ramey, Michelle, Haley, Jared, and Sarah T. wad through the hot spring current

When I first got the itinerary for this trip naturally I went to google and searched all of the cities we would be visiting. Pamukkale was one of the cities that immediately caught my attention. I was fascinated with the beauty, but I was also a little confused. Is it snow, or is it something else? Some of the pictures on google show people in their bathing suits and so I thought to myself “Liz, that can’t be snow.” I started to research what exactly is on the cliffs of Pamukkale. With some research I found out that it is calcium that is on the cliffs of Pamukkale, and there is hot spring water running down the calcium cliffs. It is so beautiful.

 I have been so excited to come here and see the white cliffs with the hot water running over them creating pretty light blue pools along the mountain. Throughout the whole trip I was so excited to see the cliffs and was counting down to the day that we were able to visit Pamukkale. When this day came, I was so excited when we pulled up to the site and were getting ready to get out and explore Pamukkale.

Looking down the white calcium cliffs of Pammukale

 So… let’s talk about the history about Pamukkale, which means “Cotton Castle.” I didn’t really know that there was also a thriving city of Pamukkale as well as the calcium pools. Pamukkale, or as it’s is also known as ancient Hierapolis, has been around since the 2^nd and 3^rd century. Selucids developed Laodicea 10 km from Pamukkale, and then this became the healing center. Pamukkale is also about 10 miles away from Colossae. Later on it became a city called Hierapolis.

When you walk into Pamukkale you can see a sign that shows how the original city looked. On this map it shows two theaters. One of the theaters was Greek, and one of them was Roman. It has also been cool learning about the difference between the Romans and Greek theaters while on this trip and being able to recognize the difference when we visit the different theaters. We were able to see the Roman theater because archeologists rebuilt the theater (the Greek theater is not excavated and remains buried under hills. This theater was beautiful. We hiked up the hill and then got up to the top of the theater we looked down on the theater, and it was one of the most beautiful ones we have seen on the trip so far. The stage was rebuilt really well and they even still have shows there every night. Pamukkale also included churches and a baptistery. 

The reconstructed Roman theater in Pamakkale

Once we looked at the theater and some of the land that is surrounding the cliffs, we went over to look at the calcium cliffs. It was so cool to look at the cliffs and see the white calcium going all the way down the hill and then to see water flowing down and creating light blue pools down the mountain. Many people would come to these pools and to the city of Pamukkale for the “healing waters” that they have there. People believed that these waters were healing and would heal them from their illnesses. They used the technique of Hydrotherapy with the hot spring water from Pamukkale in healing techniques. Water from Pamukkale also reaches to other cities and towns nearby and provides them with the healing waters. Along with the healing waters, there is also a beautiful view that you can enjoy while bathing in the hot pools.

Dr. Tims sharing with the group the science behind the calcium cliffs formation

Dr. Tims was able to share with us, in science terms, why the cliffs at Pamukkale are white. They are white because of the calcium carbonate that is released when the water begins going down the mountain. When it starts out, it is jelly like and then hardens when the amount of water decreases. The reason calcium in chalk form is dry and flaky is because of the lack of moisture and it is able to flake off on the board and produce a line where you put the chalk on the board. The cliffs remain on the mountain because of the water that is keeping the calcium moisturized and on the mountain creating pools and the ability for surrounding hotels and towns to gain access of the water that is coming from the mountain. 

I love Turkey! 

Liz Jackson

Aphrodisias - In Honor of the Goddess of Love and Beauty

The Stadium at Aphrodisias

  Who wouldn't want to run in one of the oldest preserved stadiums? The majority of our group ran a race against one another in the largest excavated stadium. Everyone was rippling with excitement at the thought of being able to stand and run in the same place where many gladiators fought and proudly died. You could sense the tension as the group of runners walked or jogged their way to the starting line on the western side of the stadium. Once everyone was set in their starting position, Hannah Tims gave the ready, set, go, which sent the group sprinting their way to the finish line. It seemed to be questionable as to who would get to the dirt path first; ensuring that it would be difficult for anyone else to pass them. Reuben and Taylor were neck and neck until the finish line, sending the rest of the group watching into a frenzy of cheers and applause.

Some of the group demonstrating the different colors of teams from antiquity--white, red, blue, and green

Taylor and Dr. Tims doing a celebratory lap

   Dating back to 2nd century A.D., Aphrodisias holds many wonders that a picture just does not seem to capture. Emperors were thought of being like the gods of their time, so Emperor Augustine named the city in order to honor Aphrodite because he claimed that his great-great-grandfather was the child of Aphrodite. This fact proved that he was related to the gods as well, which he used to honor Aphrodite by naming the city Aphrodisias.
   The Temple of Aphrodite is located through the tetrapylon. This is a monumental gateway that greeted visitors to the city. This is where people could make a sacrifice to Aphrodite, whether it be money, an animal, or gifts. This gateway leads to the temple.

Our group in front of the tetrapylon. Cenk didn't run quite fast enough to make that 10-second self-timer window!

 Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the sea when Cronos castrated his father and threw his genitals into the sea. This mixed with the sea water causing Aphrodite to be born from the sea foam. Aphrodite received the title of the most beautiful goddess due to a contest. Athena, Hera and Aphrodite were the contestants where the Trojan Prince Paris had to decide who was the most beautiful. Hera, as the wife of Zeus, promised him power. Athena, the goddess of war, promised him victory in his battles. Aphrodite however, promised him the one thing she could give, love. Paris chose love, giving Aphrodite the title goddess of love and beauty.

The Birth of Venus by Sandro Boticelli, circa 1485 (not housed at Aphrodisias)

    Before Aphrodisias was brought to attention and excavated completely, the people who lived in the city used parts of the buildings and pieces of pillars for their own use. For example, on houses you can see the bottoms of marble pillars holding up the wooden pillars of the house. Another example is that the marble sarcophagi were used for crushing grapes with their feet, or as a bathtub within the house. They also used other pieces of the marble as tables and seats.

Picture housed in the Aphrodisias museum of villagers' houses using the columns

Coffins used in a grape crushing (photo also housed in the Aphrodisias musuem)

    Zoilos was originally a slave who turned into a hero for the city of Aphrodisias. In an inscription, archeologists realized that Zoilos was the freed slave of Julius Caesar’s son Octavian. Once Zoilos was freed, he became extremely wealthy and returned to his homeland of Aphrodisias. He supplied many gifts and donated a lot of time and money towards the city. For example, the theater that is located within Aphrodisias was funded by Zoilos and his name is inscribed proudly over the entrance. The city even created a mausoleum in honor of Zoilos with friezes depicting him participating in his daily civic duties. Zoilos life was a rare occurrence, for a slave, that allowed him to use his freedom to better his home that he loved.

3D reconstruction in the museum of how Aphrodisias would have looked

    I was really excited to be visiting Aphrodisias because of my fascination with Greek mythology. This site blew me away. The beauty and preservation of the site was incredible. They unearthed the majority of the buildings and even had an interactive map in the museum that allowed us to touch the buildings on the screen in order to learn more about the history and use of the specific buildings. The statues that were placed in and on each building and monument were replicas. The originals can be found in the museum that is found on the site. They maintain the statues in the museum to prevent weathering and damage. The details of each and every one of the statues and images were so intricate that each one held its own identity. The experience I had at Aphrodisias was so insightful and an experience I would never trade.

The Sebastian reconstructed with replicas of the friezes housed in the museum

All the ladies of the group in the ruins of Aphrodite's Temple

By Sarah Newton

Lets talk about Sex, baby.

“The American culture is the most sexually saturated culture in the world.”

“Because of America’s sexually tarnished culture, women are forced to contort their bodies to unrealistic standards.”

“America’s media is destroying our culture.”

In the United States we have this idea that America has the most sexually saturated culture in the world. We look at our own media and shake our heads and believe that women wouldn’t be pressured to look a certain way if American media weren’t the way it is. Now looking at Turkey with respect to sex, the first thing that used to come to my mind was women in veils and head coverings. I believed that women were kept covered in Turkey, and coming into this trip I never would have dreamed that I would be fascinated by Turkey’s sexual culture. In many ways Turkey’s sexual culture is very similar to but also very different from America’s sexual culture, and while it may be awkward to talk about, I feel like it is of important note.

In the past couple of days, I have really noticed the connection between Turkey’s past sexual culture and their present sexual culture. We have visited Aphrodite’s temple, who is the goddess of love, and Artemis’ temple who is the goddess of fertility. In each of the temples I have noticed fertility statues, which are basically, to say this in the most polite way possible, statues of very well endowed men and women.

Statue of the Great Artemis of Ephesus that would have stood in her temple.

In ancient times, people bought these statues to ensure fertility in their families. In the different cities I have also noticed many statues of naked men. The naked male body was seen as powerful and prestigious. We have visited many stadiums and gymnasiums where we were told that men participated in their sports naked. Personally I feel like that would be uncomfortable, but for that time it was seen as natural. The male body was worthy of emulation. The male body was a gift to the universe in a sense. This wasn’t a problem because women were kept in the homes.

The Caesars were often depicted nude in statues because the male body was seen as powerful. In this frieze from the Sebaesteion in Aphrodisias, Tiberius naked leads a captive away.

Back at school we talked about the corrupt sexual culture back in Paul’s day and temple prostitution. While making sacrifices to fertility goddesses, men would also have sex with the local temple prostitutes to ensure fertility for their family. Women’s bodies were an object, and women were enslaved to their husbands as husbands owned their wives. Wives were their husband’s property. Kings had harems, sometimes hundreds of prostitutes on call that they could choose from. A women’s body was an object to be used and a man’s body was worthy of emulating.

Fast forward to the Turkey of 2014… Women have gained rights and freedom in most parts of Turkey. In western Turkey women go without head coverings and attend Universities and are able to obtain well-paying and prestigious jobs. Turkey is no longer the back-woods country we once believed it to be. It is developed and only in some parts are women kept silent and covered and concealed to the home. With this freedom also comes the downfall of a sexually freed country. I have noticed some of the commercials on Turkish TV, and it’s true that in all parts of the world, sex sells. However, the Turkish commercials are more sexual than anything I have seen on American TV. Also with TV, there is very little censorship of nudity as is the case with most European countries. Women are still plagued with body image issues as they are in the United States, and eating disorders are just as common in Turkey as they are in the United States. Health stores are popping up all over Turkey, and more and more people are becoming obsessed with their appearance. They have to live up to unrealistic expectations just as much as we do. From what I have seen there is a large partying culture in the bigger cities in Turkey.

The beach at Cesme--no burkas or head scarves here!

Turkey is slowly becoming westernized, but is this one sad aspect of the West that Turkey should adopt as well? To wrap this up, I find it disheartening that Paul wrote to the churches in this area pressing them and praying that they would change their sexual behavior. I believe that maybe the Christians changed, but I wish that it would have soaked into the entire Roman culture of that time. Turkey’s sexual culture has a strange dynamic of emphasizing the modesty of the past while incorporating the sexual mores of the past and of the West. All I can believe is that sex is an inevitable part of every culture. Only individuals can make the decision to stand apart as unique from the sexual culture around them.


by Lindsey Houser

Walking in the Foot Steps of the Apostles...A Story of a Man Made Humble

by Jason Guerrera

Visiting a country that’s on the fringe of the most hostile area of the world brings about excitement, mystery, and suspicion. I had no expectations before coming here because I didn’t know what to expect. Having no prior international traveling experience, my first instinct flying into a Muslim dominated country was to be on guard. And while having a sense of caution should always be observed when traveling abroad, my preconceived notions went a bit further than that. After arriving at our hotel in Istanbul and a group of us went for a walk through the city, my suspicions began to melt away. Before arriving in Istanbul we were required to read some literature that would help us gain an understanding of Turkish culture and customs. One novel that we read described Turkey as being “between two worlds.” Especially in the following week when we had our home stay, I realized that description was incredibly accurate.

Turkish flag with Ataturk statue below surveying the city of Kusadasi

While 98% of Turks are Muslims, a majority of them do not practice and are only Muslim in name. To align Turkey alongside other countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia would be inaccurate, because these countries do not have a constitution, and instead look to the Quran for its law, also known as Sharia law. Turkey has a constitution that was established in 1923, and since then the government and religion have been kept entirely separate. Because of this, the role of women has dramatically changed—in fact, Turkey has had a woman prime minister, arguably making it more progressive than any Westernized country, who continue to struggle with the “glass ceiling” effect. Many Turks yearn to become more like the West, but still have yet to join the European Union. As I spoke with my home stay family, they noted that they were content being “somewhat in the middle” between Europe and the Islamic countries, and while Turkey was made a candidate for joining the E.U., the fervor for becoming a member quickly faded after the recession and the severe economic troubles of Greece. Seeing this history in action once we arrived was fascinating. Turkish people have an immense amount of pride in their country, even those who disagree with how the government is being run. Turkish flags can be found in the back of buses, boats, cars, shops, buildings--you can hardly walk five hundred feet without running into one. This has had a profound impact on how I view American politics. Regardless of whether you agree with your government, you should still take pride in your country. And, unlike Turkey, we still get to elect our representatives; something that I, like many Americans, have taken for granted.

Flags on the streets of Izmir

The part of the trip that most concerned me was the home stay in Izmir. My family has hosted students before, and we actually stay in touch to this day, over ten years later. Thankfully, it was a challenging yet rewarding experience. Though the brother and sister spoke English, often my roommate and I would try and play charades to convey a word that they didn’t understand. If that didn’t work, Google translator was always there to save the day. When we weren’t at home interacting with our families we were out with our group seeing the city. Several friends back home mentioned that they had friends here in Izmir, and a quick tour of the city will tell you why. When students from the local university aren’t in class, they’re at the local bars, all a stone throw away from the ocean, intensely watching soccer or basketball. Expensive cars and shopping centers line the streets, which are kept incredibly clean by shopkeepers who continually wash and sweep the sidewalk in front of their store. Our family had an apartment in the upper part of the city, and from their balcony you can see the entire city. Though our stay in Izmir lasted only three days, it began such an incredible transformation that would’ve never happened in a classroom or a textbook.

The bustling city of Izmir below

What originally piqued my interest in coming to Turkey was its history, and from all the archaeological sites, in cities where the apostles visited and lived, has not disappointed. Reading the Bible is one thing, but reading the Bible that mentions the places you’re currently standing in brings about an entirely new perspective. Though I was raised Protestant, being exposed to the Orthodox tradition on the Greek islands was an incredible experience. Lighting the candles in the Orthodox churches and saying a prayer, sitting in the seats where monks have practiced for over a century, viewing ancient texts dating back hundreds of years, and even having the opportunity to stand in the very cave where Saint John and his assistant wrote the book of Revelation. I have never felt such a strong presence of the Holy Spirit during these experiences, and aside from the personal growth I've had with the home stays, I've had immense spiritual growth as well. Though the cliche phrase "God has a plan" has been said over and over, coming here made me realize the truth of that. Since freshman year I've planned to study abroad, and semester after semester it got pushed back from class and scheduling conflicts. Going into my senior year realizing I had to settle for a cross cultural, and having only a few to choose from, I trusted that God's hands were at work.

If there is one thing I had to take away from this trip, aside from the Turkish delight, I would mention how I originally imagined a culture that I thought viewed outsiders, especially Christians, with disdain and cynicism, are actually the most hospitable and humble people you will ever meet. I am blown away by the generosity by the Turkish people, and how even complete strangers will demonstrate acts of kindness. Reading though literature on the Crusades, one will find that my preconceived notions were a huge contributing factor to one of the bloodiest series of wars in human history. The “terrifying Turk” that many in Europe viewed as a threat to Christendom, were actually incredibly humble people who, unlike previous empires, allowed complete religious freedom, which is still observed in Turkey even today. No country is perfect, and I do not plan to change my citizenship once I get home. However, the experience of being immersed in Turkish culture has had an immeasurable impact on my personal and spiritual life, and I praise God for that. Aside from not being able to take home all of the stray dogs I see on the streets (who are all adorable by the way), I have come to completely fall in love with this country. Though our visit here in Turkey is brief, I hope to take this experience with me for the rest of my life.

Jason, Ali, and Michelle enjoying the hot springs at Pamukkale

Wrapping My Head Around What I'm Seeing

         On Thursday we spent the day in the ancient town of Ephesus. There in Ephesus, not only were there hundreds of other people looking at the same things we were, but there were also many reconstructions and excavations revealing a lot about what the town looked like in ancient times. We saw the Curates street, both the state and commercial agoras, a combined bouleuterion and odeion, the terrace houses, the Celsus Library, the Great Theater, St. Paul’s Grotto, and the Domitian Temple. One extraordinary thing was the Domitian Temple and what was underneath it. Like the Trajan Temple in Pergamum that we saw recently, where arches were holding the platform for which it was standing, the Domitian Temple, which pre-dates the Trajan Temple, also uses arches to support a platform of the temple. The construction feat in Pergamum might be more impressive, but the Domitian Temple had some surprises for us.

Cenkis, a retired archaeologist who worked on the Ephesus site for 40 years, points behind to the base of the Trajan temple (now gone) that would have stood on the top of where grass now grows.

          There isn’t much left of the Domitian Temple itself but underneath, there is an inscription museum. We had to pay a little extra to get into this museum but it was definitely worth it. One of the inscriptions inside the museum was from the 5th-6th century BC, one was from 4th century BC, and there were many other inscriptions just as old. Some inscriptions were broken, and some still held the complete message. Some inscriptions were execution notices and some were tombstones from their graves. One inscription in particular though caught the attention of a couple people including myself. On the very first line of the inscription, it had the letters AYTOKPATOPAKAIΣAPA. One thing that I’ve learned from Greek is that there is no punctuation so it is hard to decide when one word ends and the next word starts. For this inscription though, with the help of my scholarly classmates, I learned that AYTOKAPTO can be interpreted to an auto/self-ruler, implying lordship. KAIΣAP means Kaiser, which is referring to Caesar. So the first line of the inscription reads something like, Caesar is the only one who rules himself, or no one is above Caesar. Apparently it was not uncommon to begin inscriptions with this statement to show reference and respect the emperor.

Another example--Though it is missing the first two letters "KA," you can tell that the inscription reads KAIΣAP (Caesar) ΣEBAΣTOΣ (Sebastos, which is Greek for the Latin "Augustus," a word which we commonly render as "Almighty" in our Bibles) and AYTOKPATOP (Auto/self-ruler, a title given to the one with ultimate, imperial power--the emperor). Thus, the inscription may be translated as, "Almighty Ceasar, the Emperor."

       
          In John’s book of Revelation, he writes in what is called symbolic language. He writes in a way that in the 1st century AD, early Christians would understand the contexts in which John wrote. Due to John’s symbolism though, it is very difficult to interpret the book of Revelation without any historical criticism. John opens the book with these two verses (Revelations 1:4-5), “John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth…” This last statement is interesting to me. There is a chance that John could have been doing a play on words here with inscriptions like the one I saw! Romans are writing inscriptions saying that no one is above Caesar, that Caesar is lord of all, and here John comes back saying that Jesus Christ is the ruler of all the kings of the earth. Seeing these inscriptions and understanding that John was probably talking against the very thing I’m looking at is something that is hard to put into words. I have never imagined seeing the things here in Turkey that I am which makes it hard for me to fully grasp the significance of them.

          Seeing these ancient cities and these giant temples and fortresses gives me a whole new understanding of my God. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around God’s characteristics as is, but seeing these things makes it even more difficult. I have a hard time understanding that He is timeless, that He is sovereign, and with many other things, but being able to walk on the same road that Paul the apostle, John the apostle, and so many other historic evangelists whose writing still inspire helps me to understand God better. My understanding for God’s grace has changed because now I understand the sheer numbers of people, Christian or not, who lived between Paul the apostle and me. The God who gives me breath and the strength to live each day is the same God who shined a light on a lost man named Saul on a road to Damascus. The God who transformed a man’s live and transformed him into one of the most significant Christians of all time, is the same God who I have a relationship with. God’s love, which is already hard for me to fully grasp in my own life has been extending down from above for hundreds and thousands of years. This trip not only has given a lot of experience and knowledge of the society of Biblical times, but it has also helped me to understand my God in a much more complete way.

Drew Pagenkopf

Looking down the Curates in Ephesus down at the Celsius Library and where the Old Harbor once was.

Looking underneath the Domitian Temple at the Inscription Musuem.

Inscription of the word "Efes" which means Ephesus.

Light and Dark Across the Ages - A Day in Patmos, Greece

Early in the morning, as we traverse the Aegean Sea from the coast of Turkey, the blinding rays of the bright Turkish sun break through the clouds to sparkle on the dazzlingly blue waves.  The reflection of the blazing light stands in stark contrast to the dark mountains of the surrounding islands and the shadows of the deep waters.  I am irresistibly reminded of the events that took place here, aftershocks rippling out from the epicenter of Jerusalem, where the Messiah was crucified, was buried, and rose again, breaking every expectation and preconception of what God’s coming reign would be like.  The believers who lived in this place understood themselves as being caught up in a grand story of cosmic proportions, a conflict between good and evil, life and death, light and darkness.

            As we approach our destination, I see the bright sunlight glimmering on the white buildings of Patmos.  They are painted to reflect the Mediterranean sun and regulate the heat.  Their flat roofs are used to collect rainwater, but they also present a striking view from the ocean, white geometric shapes scattered across the rolling hills. The island’s population of roughly three thousand lives in three villages: Skala, Kampos, and Chora.  A tiny Greek island in the Dodecanese chain, Patmos is a breathtakingly beautiful site, understandably a significant tourist location; the main economic focus of the island is tourism.  However, there is more here to draw visitors than the natural beauty of the beaches, mountains, surrounding ocean and islands, and unparalleled views.  

Though it is only thirteen square miles, this island carries a surprising weight of history and significance.  In one of the three villages, the Monastery of St. John the Theologian holds relics from centuries and millennia past, many of which bear great importance to people on this island and others around the world.  One of the most impressive is the Codex Purpeurus Petropolitanus, or “Purple Codex,” an early manuscript of the gospel of Mark written on red-dyed parchment in silver and gold lettering.  Dating from the late 5^th-early 6^th century, this is not only a valuable piece of art, but also an important theological artifact, as it is thought to be one of the sources of the New Testament.  This book is surrounded by many other beautiful pieces: ancient texts, relics and priestly vestments, and frescoes and icons depicting biblical scenes, saints, and heavenly beings. 

St John the Theologian, Jesus Christ, and Christodoulos Latrenus

The entrance to the monastery displays a more recent piece of art: a triptych-like mosaic depicting three figures, donated in 1995.  In the center is Christ, on the left is St. John the Theologian, and on the right is Christodoulos Latrenus.  Christodoulos, whose name means “servant of Christ,” was the founder of the monastery.  A millennium ago, in 1088, Christodoulos appealed for permission to construct a monastery on the island of Patmos in honor of John, the writer of the book of Revelation.  This permission was granted by the current ruler, Emperor Alexios I Comnenos.  The island was, at this point, plagued by pirates, and its inhabitants lived in fear of attack.  Because of this, the monastery was fortified significantly – viewed from the outside, it looks more like a castle than a church. 

The view above the front gate of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian

            Above the front gate, St. John, the Theologian is depicted once again.  John is the most significant individual connected to Patmos and Christian history, and most of the historical sites on the island are somehow related to his life and legacy.  To discover what made his experience on the island of Patmos so significant to this day, we must travel back another millennium.  This John who wrote the book of Revelation is thought by some to be the same John who wrote the epistles I, II, and III John and the Gospel of John, the same John who was one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples.  The inhabitants of Patmos adhere to this belief; in any case, John, the Revelator was a leader in the early church, significantly at Ephesus, during the rule of the Roman Empire.  The Empire found that it was necessary to maintain greater unity throughout its vast area, so it enforced the practice of emperor worship as a requirement for partaking of the empire’s commercial and economic resources.  Christians who would not comply were seen as treasonous and as a threat; John was one such Christ-follower who was so outspoken about the Lordship of Christ over and against the enforced confession “Caesar is Lord” that he was exiled under the Emperor Domitian’s rule.  He would have been deprived of rights and property, and could look forward to a permanent stay on the island.  John is traditionally thought to have been exiled along with Prochorus, an early deacon in the church and said by some to be John’s nephew.

St. John the Theologian and his pupil, Prochorus

St. John, the Theologian would have been confined to the small island, likely living in a house in one of the villages.  He is thought to have visited a cave facing the bay to pray, and this traditional location has become one of the most significant sites on the island: the Cave of the Apocalypse.  The word apocalypse means to unveil or reveal something hidden, to provide a glimpse into a heavenly reality intersecting with our own earthly experience, and this is what John encountered and then provided for others.  He saw a vision of the resurrected Christ, who is described in vivid metaphorical imagery that icon painters have been inspired by as they attempt to depict this powerful scene recounted in Revelation 1.

The church built on top of the cave

            The natural cave where this may have taken place has been converted into a kind of church, and Greek Orthodox services are held there regularly.  The rough rock walls and wooden benches are juxtaposed against the ornate Orthodox decorations and the intricately stylized icons.  Slender candles can be lit by visitors and pilgrims to represent their prayers offered to God.  Even apart from all this, however, the cave itself is an astounding place.  I found myself overwhelmed by the thought that in this cave, or in a place very like it, John heard the voice of God and turned around to see the risen Jesus.  I was amazed to look out from the cave and see the same mountains and oceans that John must have gazed at as he prayed for and longed to be reunited with the believers in Ephesus whom he loved.

The view from the Cave of the Apocalypse

            John wrote the book of Revelation in the year 95 C.E., during his exile, and sent it to seven churches in Turkey.  He was eventually freed, when Emperor Domitian was assassinated and the subsequent ruler annulled his predecessor’s decrees.  A thousand years later, the Monastery of the Apocalypse was built directly over the cave.  As we return to our boat and travel back to Turkey, I am powerfully struck by the fact that John traversed these same waters, no doubt eagerly anticipating his reunion with his brothers and sisters in Christ.  Even as I look around at the same Aegean Sea that John saw, I also recognize the distance of millennia that separates us from his experience.  What is just as amazing, however, is that his legacy still has a more profound impact on our lives today that we will ever know.  His message of hope in the midst of suffering, the call to persevere and conquer in the face of persecution and difficulty, and the vision to see the evil in the world while also recognizing that good will triumph can all encourage us and inspire us to worship along with the church throughout the past two thousand years.  Christ still calls us to repent, literally to turn around, and to see who He is and what He has for us to do as we step into the light and become a part of God’s redemptive work in His Creation.

Michael Huerter