Early Christian Churches in Anatolia

I recently came across an online article from The Independent with an account of recent archaeological work and discoveries in western Anatolia that reveal significant aspects of the early Christian churches built after the Peace of the Church and about communities in the region of the Seven Churches of Asia addressed in the Johannine text of Revelation. 

Amongst the discoveries is in a tomb at Iznik - ancient Nicea - and is the best preserved example of those few paintings which survive showing Christ as the Good Shepherd with a definitely Romanised figure of Christ. This is dated to the early to mid third century

The Good Shepherd and other paintings in the Iznik tomb

Image: MSN

It is also covered by another Independent article from late last year which can be seen at Jesus fresco found in ancient tomb sheds light on early Christianity

At the other end of the social scale are the Christian graffiti cut onto walls and, arguably, the small pilgrim flask with the figure of St George from Pergamum. Christianity had come to be, and remained, part and parcel of the life of the region.

The more recent article also looks at evidence that has emerged of the scale of the Imperial cult, and sees the emerging Christian Church as a direct counterpoint to that in the pre-Constantinian era.

The discoveries are illustrated and outlined alongside these interpretative points in the article at Spectacular archaeological finds in Turkey shed new light on origins of Christianity

There is a video with commentary about the Good Shepherd painting from africanews which can be seen at 🔎 recent early christian discoveries in Turkey   

A longer version without commentary from AP may be viewed at 🔎 recent early christian discoveries in Turkey 

 

Another video reports on excavations and conservation  of a flooded basilica site at Iznik, the site of the original city of Nicea and of the Council of 325. As I understand it a subsequent earthquake submerged the original city beneath the lake, and Nicea was rebuilt on the hill above its drowned predecessor.

The video can be be seen at 🔎 recent early christian discoveries in Turkey 

What has been revealed by these discoveries is further evidence of the extent and stability of Christian life despite occasional persecution, and underscores the point that the Persecution under Diocletian and his supporters was not merely more intense but came after a period of seeming acceptance and co-existence.

The tomb with the Good Shepherd painting also demonstrates that at least some Christians belonged to an affluent social sphere and able to appreciate and commission artworks. The world of these Christian Anatolians was clearly not just one of slaves and the downtrodden but part of Roman society, even if that society did not officially recognise them, and was sometimes hostile.