The difficult situation faced by Christians continued until the reign of Constantine the Great. A major change came in the year 313 with the Edict of Milan. This decree ended official persecution of Christians and restored properties that had been taken from them during earlier persecutions. It also gave the Christian Church the support and protection of the Roman state for the first time.
With this new freedom, Christianity could develop openly. Christians were no longer forced to meet in secret, and they were now allowed to own land and construct buildings. This period marked the beginning of church construction in many cities, including Ephesus The Statue of the Virgin Mary at Ephesus.
Early Church Building Difficulties
The earliest churches in Ephesus were probably built soon after the Edict of Milan. However, these early building efforts faced many problems. The Roman Empire had suffered from constant political struggles and civil wars during the previous century. As a result, there was a shortage of skilled craftsmen, architects, and builders.
In addition, Constantine focused much of his attention on large construction projects in the new capital, Constantinople. These ambitious projects may have drawn the best architects and builders away from the provinces. Because of this, many early churches in Ephesus were poorly built and fell into ruin after a short time.
Early Christian Shrines and Sacred Places
One of the earliest Christian sites in Ephesus is a complex located above the Temple of Serapis, on the slope of Mount Coressus. This site includes a grotto about twenty meters long, carved into the rock. It is believed to have been an early Christian shrine and is known today as the Grotto of Saint Paul.
This early Byzantine shrine contains wall paintings of Saint Paul and Saint Thecla. It also has small niches cut into the walls for lamps and offerings. In addition, there are religious graffiti where believers wrote prayers and appeals to Saint Paul, showing that this place was used for devotion and pilgrimage Mystical Bulgaria Tours.
Churches Built on Pagan Sites
As Christianity became stronger, churches were often built on or near former pagan temples. In Ephesus, a church probably dedicated to Saint John was built on the ruins of the Temple of Serapis in the great agora. Unfortunately, its exact date is still unknown.
Another important structure was a large Roman monument from the first or second century CE, located east of the upper agora. Originally dedicated to heroes, it was later converted into a church. This building became known as the Tomb of Saint Luke. The name comes from a relief of an ox carved beneath a cross, since the ox is the traditional symbol of the Evangelist Luke.
Chapels were also added to the governor’s palace and to the villa above the theatre. One of the westernmost towers of the walls built by Lysimachus became known as the “Prison of Saint Paul,” reflecting local Christian tradition.
Growth in the Age of Justinian
In the fourth and fifth centuries, a large church stood on the site of today’s Tusan Motel. Its floor was decorated with mosaic pavements, showing the growing confidence of the Christian community.
A major change occurred in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Justinian the Great. His deep religious devotion and political ambition provided Ephesus with skilled architects and sufficient financial support. As a result, churches built during this period were larger, stronger, and more impressive than those of earlier centuries.
Lasting Christian Monuments
The most important Christian monuments that survive from this later period include the House of the Virgin Mary, the Church of the Virgin (also known as the Double Church), the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers in Ephesus, and the Church of Saint John the Theologian in Selçuk.
These monuments represent the final great Christian phase of Ephesus, marking the city’s transformation from a pagan center into an important place of Christian worship and memory.
