In the region of Cappadocia, one can find a magical land of strange and hauntingly beautiful rock formations. These fairy chimneys and rock spires, as they are called, are the product of age-old volcanic eruptions coupled with the earth's natural erosion. Running through the massive stone monuments and scenic hills is the Kizilirmak River, the longest river in Turkey. It is fed partly by the melting snow from the nearby mountain peaks.

This area has been the home to many pre-historic and ancient civilizations like the Hatti, the Nesa, and the Hittites. After the Hittite empire had disintegrated, the Lydians and Medes found a home in Cappadocia, as the area became part of the Persian Empire. Alexander the Great was the next to conquer Cappadocia. Finally, this area fell under Roman rule.

With its central location, Cappadocia has been home to various trade routes, including the illustrious Silk Road. This trade not only connected the ancient world in terms of goods and services, but it also became a pivotal place to share and spread new ideas and philosophies. With the influx of new wealth and prosperity, Cappadocia became a prime target for raiding bands of plunderers. To protect themselves, the local population took to the hills and underground caves where their hiding places were well concealed. Eventually, some of these dwellings dove to a depth of up to seven or eight stories. Today, they are called the underground cities of Cappadocia , some of which date back to before the Christian era.

According to the Book of Acts, chapter 2, Jews from Cappadocia were in Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, when the followers of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit and miraculously spoke in tongues. Peter's writings confirm that churches did develop in Cappadocia once these believing Jews returned. He warned them that persecution was headed their way, and indeed it began. Apparently this continued, as Tertullian wrote about persecution against Christians in Cappadocia at the end of the second century. The trials must have been severe and effective for the enemies of the faith. By the year 275, when Gregory Thaumaturgos the Evangelist came to Cappadocia to preach, he found only 17 believers who survived in the faith. Through his bold preaching, however, Gregory began a revival of the faith that resulted in entire city populations believing in Christ.

Cappadocia was central to the development of the early Eastern Church and orthodox doctrine. The Cappadocian Fathers, St. Basil, Gregory of Nazianus and Gregory of Nyssa, spent their lives in quiet devotion articulating the Word of God and the hypostases doctrine of the Trinity. Against the heresies of the day, the Cappadocians taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons of the same Essence. Basil and the Gregories wrote widely to educate people and made significant contributions to the Nicene Councils.

Prior to the fourth century, Roman Christians trying to escape persecution often sought refuge in the barren crags and underground caverns of this region. Religious communities of monks and hermit colonies also found solace in the desert. Christians with a penchant for self-denial and ascetic ways carved monasteries into rock cliffs and isolated pinnacles. Early believers such as St. Seneca, carved single caves in stone walls to escape the world. Later, more elaborate communities were established with larger facilities. Such fanciful and extensive caves can be seen today at sites like the open-air museum in Goreme.

The techniques and architectural foresight needed to build such edifices in vertical rock attests to the innovation of these early believers. They used ideas from the Roman and Byzantine styles and adapted them to meet their needs. Basilicas, vestibules, aisles, domes, columns, and pillars can all be found in these rock churches.

The artists who decorated the chapels were driven by a sense of symbolism and beauty. Elegant frescoes fill the darkened corners of various caves where early Christians met to worship God. Here one can see a combination of western and eastern ideas with the vivid colors and a mosaic look to the masterpieces.

With the influx of the Seljuk Turks, mosques began to dot the Cappadocian landscape - a trend that the Ottomans continued. Yet the Christian places of worship were untouched and, fortunately for the student of Church history, the past is still well-preserved high in the hills of Cappadocia.