Here’s what Philadelphia looks like today. The modern city is built on top of the old ruins. So there’s not much to see of this ancient city built by Eumenes II for his brother Attolas II in 2nd century B.C.
The Princeton archeology school excavated one city block surrounding a 6th century church built by Justinian. What you see here is the base of one of the grand arches of this church dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. That’s Suzanne Treis standing at the entrance. Suzanne took almost all of the pictures I posted in April while in Turkey.
Underneath the church are the bare ruins of the ancient city. This would have been the Philadelphia of Saint John’s time when he wrote his apocalyptic letter to the church in Philadelphia: “And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write, write this: I know thy works. Behold I have given before thee a door opened… because thou hast kept my word… And they shall know that I have loved thee, because thou hast kept the word of my patience. I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation.” [Rev 3, 7-10]
The funeral stones from Philadelphia are filled with life with a filigree of eggs surrounded by a spring growth of fresh leaves and branches, sprouts and flowers.
In other ornamental funeral stones we find Christian symbols of grape vines and thurible with incense rising to bless the tombs of the deceased Christians of Philadelphia who were praised by St. John for their piety and for their love.
The Princeton archeology school excavated one city block surrounding a 6th century church built by Justinian. What you see here is the base of one of the grand arches of this church dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. That’s Suzanne Treis standing at the entrance. Suzanne took almost all of the pictures I posted in April while in Turkey.
Underneath the church are the bare ruins of the ancient city. This would have been the Philadelphia of Saint John’s time when he wrote his apocalyptic letter to the church in Philadelphia: “And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write, write this: I know thy works. Behold I have given before thee a door opened… because thou hast kept my word… And they shall know that I have loved thee, because thou hast kept the word of my patience. I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation.” [Rev 3, 7-10]
The funeral stones from Philadelphia are filled with life with a filigree of eggs surrounded by a spring growth of fresh leaves and branches, sprouts and flowers.
In other ornamental funeral stones we find Christian symbols of grape vines and thurible with incense rising to bless the tombs of the deceased Christians of Philadelphia who were praised by St. John for their piety and for their love.
