Pergamus

Description

According to the New Testament in the second part of the Bible, the Prophet Jesus appears to Saint (Apostle) John and gives "messages" to be delivered to the seven churches. Messages sent to these seven churches themselves, and are regarded as the first Christian churches in Turkey are located. M.S. Established by Saint (from Tarsus) Paul during the Roman Empire in 53-56, these churches are named after the Roman period: 1.Ephesus (Ephesos) (Selçuk) 2.İzmir (Smyrna) 3.Bergama (Pergamon) 4.Salihli ( Sardes) 5.Alaşehir (Philadelphia) 6.Denizli (Laodikeia) 7.Akhisar (Thyateira). One of the seven churches mentioned in the Bible, the Saint John (Saint Jean) Church (called Red Hall by the locals) is located in Bergama. Bergama was an episcopal center in the Christian era. The church was built as a temple dedicated to the Egyptian God Serapis. However, the Red Hall is a church where Christians gather and worship secretly during times when Christianity is forbidden. Of the 7 churches mentioned in the Bible's Revelation by St John, it is the only church whose exact location is known. The reason why it is called Red Courtyard is that it is completely covered with red bricks when viewed from the outside. A few of the marbles covering the building can be seen even today. The Seramis Temple, which was converted to a church in the Byzantine period, was used as a prison in the Ottoman Period. One of these towers is currently used as a mosque.