St. John’s Basilica

The basilica built on the tomb of St. John, who wrote the Gospel of John and is one of the apostles of Jesus, is located on Ayasuluk Hill within the ancient city of Ephesus. It is believed that St. John the Evangelist spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and was buried on the southern slope of Ayasuluk Hill. Three hundred years after St. John's death, a small chapel was built over the tomb in the 4th century. The church of St. John was transformed into a miraculous basilica in the region of Emperor Justinian (527 -565 AD). John or the Apostle John was the author of the Fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation. Following the spread of Christianity, the people of Ephesus moved back to Ayasuluk after the 7th century, St. Jean’s basilica replaced the old episcopal church in Ephesus. The monumental basilica was shaped like a cross and covered with six domes. Its construction of stone and brick is an extremely rare find in the architecture of its time. Raised by two steps and covered with marble, the tomb of St. John was located under the central dome, which was once supported by the four columns at the corners. The columns in the inner courtyard show the monograms of Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora. Built in the 5th century AD, the baptistery is located to the north of the nave, with its keyhole shape.