Christian Women in Turkey - A History (ePub)

Turkey is the other Holy Land - a country that has been host to Christians since 33CE when the Christian Church was born in Jerusalem. Turkey was referred to as Asia Minor. There were people from the Roman provinces of Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia in Jerusalem when the Church was born. Within twenty years the Apostles Paul, Peter and others had begun to travel in these Roman Provinces establishing churches and following up with letters of encouragement. The New Testament records the evangelisation of the Roman Provinces, in what is now Turkey, in the Acts of the Apostles. From the beginning women were part of Jesus' travelling band of followers and leaders and members of the churches of Galatia, Asia Minor, Cappadocia, Pontus and other Roman Provinces in what is now Turkey. This book records the lives of a selection of the Christian women who have lived in what is now known as Turkey. Their stories are told in the New Testament, church history and church archives. Some are well known and others are little known. Often we only know a name and very sketchy details of their lives but each of these women has made a contribution to the lives of those around them and has lived their lives to the glory of God. They are part of 'the great cloud of witnesses' (Hebrews 12:1)

The book covers the centuries from 33CE to the present day. The book looks at the lives of 53 Christian women who lived in the New Testament Era, Ante-Nicene Era (100 to 325CE), Byzantine Era (325 to 1453), Ottoman Era (1453 to 1923) and the Turkish Republican Era (1923 to the present day). The reader will meet with Christian women who have lived faithfully in these different eras that have played out in what is now modern day Turkey. There continues to be a Christian Church in Turkey that continues faithfully to witness to their experience of the living Christ.

The writer hopes that readers will be inspired to read and research about other women who have lived in what is now modern day Turkey. The selection is eclectic and small. There could surely be many more women who could have had a place in this record of Christian Women who have lived in the last two thousand years in what is now modern day Turkey.