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Smyrna
(Izmir) is one of the oldest cities of the Mediterranean
world and has been of almost continuous historical
importance during the last 5,000 years. Excavations
indicate settlement contemporary with that of the first
city of Troy, dating from the 3rd millennium BC.
Thereafter, the city developed into one of the wealthiest
poleis of the region, vying with Ephesus and Myletus for
the title "first city of Asia.".
At the time when St. Polycarp became its bishop, the
city's population was close to a hundred thousand people.
Marble crosses found in the Agora indicate the existence
of a sixth-century church. St. John's letter in the
Revelation shows that there was also a synagogue in Smyrna
in the first century. |
The history of
Smyrna goes back to the 3rd millenium B.C. In the 10th century B.C. Ionians occupied the
city. The famous geographer Strabo tells us that as that of Ephesus, the Amazons were the
founders of the city. Lydians conquered and devastated the city in the 7th century B.C.
The city was re-established after Alexander the Great expelled Persians from Western
Anatolia. Then the control of the city was shifted to Pergamum and finally to Rome. This
was when a number of majestic buildings were erected in the city.
178 A.D. became the year of destruction for
Smyrna; a major earthquake destroyed nearly every building in the city. Roman emperor
Marcus Aurelius reconstructed Smyrna. The worst time in the history of the city was when
the Arab raids started in the 7th century. The Seljuk period and crusaders followed this.
Finally, in the 15th century Ottomans took over.
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The commercial activities flourished
again. The city was considered as an important port-city of Asia Minor during Ottoman
period and attracted many European traders. Now, it is still one of the most important
port-cities of Turkey.
The famous bishop of Christian church, Polycorp served in Smyrna between 115
to 156 A.D. He and eleven other Christians from Philadelphia were burned at the stake in
156 A.D. during the persecution of Christians in Smyrna. He was a good transmitter and
follower of the early traditions of Christian faith.
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In his
letter to the Christians of Smyrna, 60 years before Polycorp's massacre, St.John wrote :
Revelation
(2:8) To the angel of the church in Smyrna write :
This is the message from the one who is the first and the last, who died and lived
again.
(2:9) I know your troubles; I know that you are poor but really you are rich! I
know the evil things said against you by those who claim to be Jews but are not; they are
a group that belongs to Satan! Don't be afraid of anything you are about to suffer.
Listen! The Devil will put you to test by having some of you thrown into prison, and your
troubles will last ten days. Be faithful to me, even if it means death, and I will give
you life as your prize of victory. If you have ears, then listen to what the Spirit says
to the churches! Those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death.
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