3 of the 7 churches in revelations

 Ankara Branch less a couple of families: L to R Hasan Pres./Dr. Jeffory Schwitzer [Member of the Seventy & East European Area President], his with JoAnn; our interpetor Seda; Meriç; Laura; Emily; Sandy holding Emily's two girls; Duard holding Laura's son.

Flight from Ankara to Izmir, only the mountain peaks show through the clouds.

 Carpet buying in Izmir, yea I finally bit the bullet, I am still trying to recover.

The konak clock tower in İzmir. For centuries İzmır was known as Smyrna, one of the seven cities John wrote to in Revelation. Until 1922 the city had a large Christian population, including thousands of Greek Orthodox. İzmir is Turkies third largest city with a population of about 3 1/2 million.

 A computer closing in İzmir at a handicap orgaization. They were training the handicap in the use of computers and assist them in finding employment.

While on the Cross, Jesus gave his Apostle John the charge to take care of his mother. The Greek isle of Patmus where John wrote Revelation is just off the coast of İzmır. The Catholic Church along with Muslims believe the foundation to this stone house was Mary's. A small chapel adjoins it.

One of the seven wonders of the Ancient World was the Temple of Artemus, this sculpture is one of nunerous artifacts believed to have come from it. So important was Artemus to Ephesuss economy that Paul was stoned and driven from the city when they thought his conversions would hurt the city.

 

The great theater in Ephesus that Paul was to speak in. Ephesus did become the center for the Christian Church about 90 AD after so many followers left Jerusalem. It was one of the seven Churches, John wrote to.in Revelations while onthe Isle of Patmus, a short ferry ride off the coast.

Excavated starting in 1999 and opened to the public in 2006, the Terrace houses in Ephesus allow you to see how wonderful a life the wealthy lived. Other than electricty, they had running hot and cold water in their kitchens and bathrooms, saunas and swimming pools. beautiful mosaics. The home were even set up so they were cool in the summer and heated during winter.

The famous library of Ephesus. It is said that Mark Anthony gave Cleopatra the volumns of writtings from here and the great Library in Pergamum as a wedding gift and had them sent to Alexandria Egypt which later was lost in fire. L-R Elder and Sister Schwitzer; Elder and Sister Abney and us.

Du & Sandy; Greg and Jo Ann; Marilyn and KC at the Temple of Trajan in Pergamum, the third of the three Churches spoken of in Revelations we visited. The other four are in the same general vicinity, hopefuly we will made it back down and have the opportunity to visit them. Here at Pergamun [Bergama] was another of the Ancient seven wonders, the Temple of Zeus. It was taken stone by stone and rebuilt in Berlin in their Pergamun museum in 1870. Another highlight here espically for Pres. Schwitzer  who is a MD  was a visit to the great mrdical complex built by the famos physician Galen who was born here in AD 129.