Christianity first bloomed in Anatolia with the first church of Christianity dedicated to St. Peter in Antioch.
Early Christians fleeing from Roman persecution found refuge in Cappadocia's underground cities.
Anatolia became the heartland of the eastern realm of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
The Greek Orthodox church is still located in Istanbul.
The Garden of Eden was said to be watered by a river which separated into four streams as it left the garden. Two of them, the Tigris and the Euphrates, are found in the mountains of eastern Turkey.
Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in Turkey, is believed to be the place where Noah's Ark landed.
The Seven Churches of the Apocalypse were all located in Anatolia - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
St. Nicholas - today's Santa Claus, was born in Patara (next to Kalkan) and lived as the bishop of Myra in Demre (also near Kalkan).
Followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" in today's Antakya.
All Ecumenical Councils were held in western Anatolia.
Over one hundred Christian churches of many different sects are found in the city of Istanbul.
~Sevi~