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Revision as of 01:38, 5 August 2006 by Paul August (talk | contribs) (sp)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The seven churches of Asia (properly Asia Minor) are seven major churches of the early Christianity, as mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation. All sites are in modern-day Turkey. In the Revelation, the angel instructs 'Saint John the Evangelist' to:
- Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11, NRSV)
It should be understood that "churches" in this context refers to the community of Christians living in each city, and not merely to the building or buildings in which they gathered for worship.
The seven churches are located in:
- Ephesus
- Smyrna, modern day Izmir
- Pergamon, modern-day Bergama
- Thyatira, modern-day Akhisar
- Sardis,
- Philadelphia, modern-day Alasehir
- Laodicea, near modern-day Denizli (see Laodicean Church)
There is a common mnemonic for memorizing the seven cities: "Every smart person thinks, 'Start ... (ph)finish later.'"