Holy Sites in Türkiye

Türkiye (Turkey) is a remarkable destination for spiritual travelers, offering a rich tapestry of sacred sites, from ancient Christian monasteries and Islamic mosques to the mystical traditions of Sufi whirling dervishes.

A mosaic of the Virgin Mary, Christ Child, and St. Irene of Hungary can be seen in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. (Lori Erickson photo)

The nation of Türkiye is one of the most remarkable pilgrimage destinations in the world, full of holy sites from a variety of faith traditions.

Türkiye has been a crossroads of civilization for millennia. Within its borders lie remains of the first known human settlement as well as ruins and artifacts from a succession of empires that include the Hittites, Lycians, Ionians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans. This ancient land is also home to many sites sacred to the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths.

In Turkey, the Whirling Dervishes embody the Sufi poet Rumi’s timeless spiritual message. (Bob Sessions photo)

While many Christians do not think of Türkiye as a biblical land, during much of the first century it was the center for the young church. Two-thirds of the 27 books in the New Testament were either written in Asia Minor (the term for the Asian portion of Türkiye) or were addressed to communities there. The apostles John, Paul, and Peter lived, preached, and prayed here.

The Seven Churches of Revelation—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea—are located on Türkiye’s Aegean coast. According to tradition, the apostle John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the crucifixion, where she lived her last days in a small stone house on Mount Koressos.

The long list of holy sites in Türkiye includes the incomparable Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Basilica of St. John near Ephesus, and Mount Ararat in eastern Türkiye.

As one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world, Türkiye is attracting a growing number of visitors interested in exploring its religious sites. Though the country is 99 percent Muslim, it is a secular state that is proud of its many Christian and Jewish landmarks. The Turkish people are warm, hospitable and eager to show the world their cultural and spiritual treasures.

While the coastal areas enjoy a generally mild climate, with warm summers and moderate winters, the inland plateau has greater temperature extremes. Late April through June, as well as September and October, are good times to travel in Türkiye, as the weather is pleasant and the crowds manageable. July and August are the high season. Türkiye in winter has its own charms: I’ve visited twice, in November and in January, and found the weather to be pleasant both times. A bonus was the fact that the major sites were not as crowded with tourists.

While the official language is Turkish, English is widely spoken in major cities and resort areas.

In the following links I describe trips to various sites in Türkiye. I hope you’ll also read my book Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles and God, which is a memoir told through trips to a dozen holy sites around the world. One of its chapters describes a visit to Ephesus.

Cappadocia

Ephesus

Istanbul

Konya

Pergamum/Bergama

Pilgrimage Routes in Türkiye

 

Lori Erickson is one of America’s top travel writers specializing in spiritual journeys. She’s the author of books that include Holy Rover, Near the Exit, The Soul of the Family Tree, and Every Step Is Home. Her website Spiritual Travels features holy sites around the world.

 

 

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