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Ephesus: Day 5 in Turkey

EPHESUS

Today was yet again a full day, but fortunately we didn't have to travel a lot to enjoy it. This was the day that many of us had been looking forward to because Ephesus is a highly excavated location so it offers much to see, but also because Ephesus is such a prominent location in the New Testament.

Me with St. John's Basilica
We began the day by visiting the Home of Mary. This is a house in Ephesus that is traditionally believed to be the place where Mary the MOther of Jesus stayed for several years following Jesus' resurrection. This is because of the fact that John was commanded by Jesus on the cross to care for Mary, and Ephesus is where John spent the majority of his ministry. We also have various aspects of church history and traditions that say this potentially is the place. Next was St. John's Basilica which is a church constructed in the Byzantine period. It was home to various church historical events, but was known for holding the remains of John.

The great theater where Paul preached
After having a traditional Turkish lunch, we went to the ruins of Ephesus itself. This was an opportunity for us to experience the extravagance of Ephesus. Ephesus was a very wealthy city because of its stance as the port city and major trade route for Asia Minor. The ruins are large, and will take at least another 100 years to excavate the entire city.
We were able to see structures such as temples, the Agora (marketplace), Roman bath houses, a massive library, and even the great theater which Paul would have preached in while in the city. We spent a good bit of time here, and it was inspiring to walk the streets where Paul sent multiple years of his ministry, and wrote letters to churches such as the Corinthians.

Our tour guide Funda (pronounced FOON-dah) has done a great job of providing us with opportunities to also experience traditional Turkish culture. Today provided two such instances. First we were able to have lunch and visit with a co-op of ladies that produce the famous handmade Turksih carpets. We were able to see their process and learn about the various styles and types of carpets. Secondly, we visited a Turkish leather storehouse that produces leather products for some of the world's most notable designers (Armani, Burberry, etc). Here we were able to learn about the different products/resources, see their workshop, and even were treated to a special mini-fashion show. I guess I can now say that not only did I attend my first fashion show, but that it was an "international" fashion show!

The great library at Ephesus
Tomorrow we will go to Pergamum, the sixth of the seven churches (we will not be seeing the final church as there isn't much to see and its a bit out of the way). We also will be making a stop at a non-biblical site, but one of great importance in history, Troy. For now, goodnight from Kusadasi, Turkey!

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