Many travelers undertake pilgrimage trips to Asia Minor. And they have every reason to do so: some of the most revered figures in Christianity were born here or have passed through here. In this post we list some of the main saints in Turkey: some have a sanctuary, while others are present only through the evocation of their work in the territory of what is now Turkey.
Saint Paul of Tarsus
St. Paul of Tarsus deserves the first place in this list because, of all the saints born in Turkey, he is the most important. Although there is no consensus as to whether he personally knew Christ, he was his contemporary and was instrumental in the early spread of the new religion. In fact, although he was not one of the original 12 apostles, for this saint is also used that term, specifically that of ‘apostle of the Gentiles’, for his preaching in certain cities of Anatolia at that time: Iconium (Konya), Antioch of Psicia or Lystra. In all of them you will find the mark of this saint, but in none is as present as in Tarsus, his birthplace, where the remains of his house are still preserved, with special mention of the well.
San Juan
St. John is another of the saints forever linked to present-day Turkey. And he is so for three reasons: for his references to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation, for having helped the Virgin Mary to settle for a time in Ephesus, where today the House of the Virgin is located, and for being his place of death, which is why a great basilica was erected here in the time of Justinian (5th century). As far as the Apocalypse is concerned, it is true that there are discrepancies as to whether the St. John who wrote it was the apostle or another character called St. John of Patmos, who was exiled on that island and where he wrote the letters that appeal to the seven churches (communities of the faithful). In any case, traveling through these churches, today cities or archaeological sites, is a way of evoking St. John: Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea and Ephesus.
San Pedro
The apostle who received the keys of the Church, entrusted directly by Jesus Christ, ended his days in Rome, which is why he is the patron saint of that city. But on his way to Rome, he had time to stop in Asia Minor and to be the protagonist of some important episodes. For example, he was considered the first meeting of Christians in Antioch, where the Grotto of St. Peter is located today. He became bishop of the city, where he also met St. Paul.
St. Barnabas
Another fundamental saint for Christianity and for Turkey: he was one of the 12 apostles and associated with St. Paul to spread the word of Jesus Christ, especially in Tarsus, as well as in Iconium (Konya) and other surrounding towns. He was also present in Antioch at the first Christian meetings.
San Felipe
His relationship with the territory of present-day Turkey is that this apostle carried out evangelizing work in Hierapolis, together with his sister Mariamne, although he soon suffered martyrdom and lost his life here, tied to a cross, hung and stoned. And the specific place where he suffered martyrdom is today in the archaeological site of Hierapolis, which represents one of the most emotionally charged points for Christians visiting the country.
St. George
Finally, we mention one of the most venerated saints of all Christianity, St. George, who was a native of Cappadocia. However, he soon marched to the Holy Land and there he made a career as a military man. His tomb is in Lod, today Israel, the epicenter of his veneration. This veneration reached its zenith in the Middle Ages, with the rise of the Crusades, as his work as a mounted warrior, with legends such as the death of the dragon, inspired the medieval knights. In the town of Diyarbakır is perhaps the main church dedicated to the saint in the country, albeit in ruins.
