SAINT JOHN CHURCH
The Basilica of St. John was a
great church in Ephesus was constructed by Emperor Justinian in the
6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of St. John,
who is identified as the apostle, evangelist (author of the Fourth
Gospel) and prophet (author of Revelation).
The basilica is on the slopes of Ayasoluk Hill near the center of
Selçuk, just below the fortress and about 3.5 km (2 miles) from
Ephesus.
Myth & Mystery
There was a St. John identified wih Ephesus since as early as the
1st century, who seems to have originally been the author of
Revelation who was exiled on Patmos. By the second century this John
was equated with John the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of John (presumed
also to be the same person as John the Apostle, beloved disciple of
Jesus).
Legend had it that John wrote his gospel in Ephesus at the request
of other disciples, then died in the church named for him on
Ayasoluk Hill. Later legends developed that he was not really dead,
but sleeping, and dust could even be seen moving above his grave as
he breathed.
History
St. John's grave was marked by a memorial and enclosed by a church
of modest proportions in the 4th century. In the 6th century,
Emperor Justinian (527-65 AD) believed that a tomb dating from the
300s was John's, so he built a magnificient church on the site
dedicated to the saint.
The traditional tomb of St. John, located under the main central
dome, elevated the site to one of the most sacred sites in the
Middle Ages and thousands made pilgrimage here.
But with the decline in importance of Ephesus and after Arab raids,
the basilica fell into ruins until the Seljuk Aydinoglu clan
converted it into a mosque in 1330. The building was then completely
destroyed in 1402 by Tamerlane's Mongol army.
The ruined church was thereafter pillaged for building materials,
but recent restoration enables visitors to understand its size and
visualize its former splendor.
What to See
St. John's basilica was cruciform and roofed with six massive domes.
The capitals facing the nave (central aisle) bear the monograms of
the Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora.
The current entrance leads into the basilica through the southern
transept. Originally, entry was through the oversize exterior
courtyard atrium to the west of the nave, which led worshipers
through the narthex and finally into the far end of the nave.
The brick foundations and marble walls have been partially
reconstructed; if they were fully restored, the cathedral would be
the seventh largest in the world.
More recent excavations east of the apse have revealed a baptistery
and central pool, along with an attached chapel covered in frescoes
depicting the saints.
