Ephesus Ancient City is located three kilometers southwest of Selçuk district of Izmir province. Ephesus Ancient City was established as a simple settlement in 8600 BC. It was transformed into a city by the Attic and Ionian Greek colonists in the 10th century BC. It was one of the twelve cities of Ionia in the classical Greek era. The city developed after it came under the control of the Roman Republic in 129 BC. During this period, Ephesus turned into one of the biggest metropolises of its age with a population of over 200,000. Ephesus Ancient City was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. 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). Saint John (Saint John-Saint Jean) Church, one of the Seven Churches in Asia, is located in Ephesus. St.Paul (from Tarsus) tried very hard to spread Christianity in Ephesus and gave one of her famous sermons here. Ayasuluk Castle is located at the highest place of Ayasuluk Hill next to Ephesus. Ayasuluk Castle was built by the Byzantines in the 7th and 8th centuries AD in order to protect it from Arab attacks. Ayasuluk Castle was restored and used during the Selcuk and Ottoman periods. There is St.John's Church in the castle, which was built in the 5th century AD and known as the pilgrimage church.