The Basilica of St. John near Ephesus in Selçuk, Turkey, is a 6th-century Byzantine church built to honor St. John the Apostle, who is believed to be buried at the site.
Located in the town of Selçuk a few miles away from Ephesus, the remains of the Basilica of St. John overlook the remnants of the Temple of Artemis, creating a matched set of two great religious landmarks now fallen into ruin.
The basilica is believed to mark the burial place of St. John the Apostle, one of Jesus’ closest disciples. Built in the 6th century CE under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the church was constructed over an earlier shrine thought to house the saint’s tomb.
The basilica was once one of the largest and most important churches in Christendom. Designed in the shape of a cross, it had six massive domes supported by marble columns. The grandeur of the site reflected the importance of St. John in early Christianity, as he was traditionally believed to have lived in the nearby city of Ephesus and written the Book of Revelation while in exile on Patmos. The tomb of St. John, located in the central nave, was a focal point for pilgrims who visited the site for centuries.
Although much of the basilica lies in ruins today due to earthquakes and invasions, you can still see remnants of its once-magnificent architecture, including colonnades, mosaics, and inscriptions. The site also offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the medieval Selçuk Fortress and the nearby Isa Bey Mosque.
The Basilica of St. John is an important destination for those exploring the early Christian heritage of the region. Ongoing archaeological efforts and conservation work continue to shed light on its history and preserve its legacy.
A Place to Contemplate
When I visited this quiet and serene site, my guide explained that during John’s lifetime, this was the spot where he liked to write. Before his death, he asked his followers to bury him in the place that meant so much to him. When I stood in that same spot, listening to the birds sing and looking out at the beautiful valley below, I understood why a writer would choose to work here. As a writer myself, I felt a visceral connection with John’s choice. Why of course you would choose to write here if given the chance. How could you not?
I realize that Biblical scholars disagree over whether the apostle John actually wrote the Gospel book attributed to him. But regardless of whether it was written by John, or a follower of his, or some other early Christian, and regardless of whether it was written here or in some other spot, I know this: I experienced the power of the words of that Gospel more strongly on Ayasuluk Hill than at any other place.
The beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
In Ephesus, they say that John lived to be 100 years old. To me the words of John’s Gospel do indeed have the feel of memories that have been contemplated over and over again for many years. In reading them it’s easy to get the sense they were created by an old man looking back, trying to make sense of what he had seen and experienced many decades before. That explains, I think, the mystical nature of the words, the fact that they shimmer and change when considered in different lights. It’s not enough to know the surface story of what happened, John says. Look deeper.
The Basilica of St. John is a place to look deeper into those words, sitting there where perhaps John himself once worked, looking out at those beautiful hills.
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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