Falkener, Edward: Ephesus and the temple of Diana (London, 1862)

VII.

CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS AND MODERN HISTORY.

THE building most connected with the Christian
history of Ephesus, is the Church of St. John.
Many people are apt to suppose that "the Seven
Churches of Asia" were actual buildings of stone
and marble, or brick and mortar; and many times
have I been asked since my return, even by in-
telligent persons, whether I had seen the Seven
Churches. Nor is this to be wondered at, when
a distinguished and learned author of the present
day, speaking of Sardis, says :—" Here are also
the ruins of a large church, perhaps the only one
of the Seven Churches of Asia, of which there are
any distinguishable remains."

The churches of Asia Minor, the ruins of which
we now see, were erected long after the introduction
of Christianity, and it is probable that in the
primitive and simple ages of the Church, they were
not, as subsequently, called after the names of
saints, real or imaginary. The instance before us
would show the impropriety of considering the
Seven Churches to be actual buildings. The
Church of St. John, which was always the prin-