The Church of Saint Antipas in Pergamum Through the Centuries

The Temple of Saint Antipas as it was from 1919-1922.

In the Book of Revelation we are first introduced to Saint Antipas, who Christ reveals to Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian as one of His faithful martyrs in Pergamum. It is believed that Saint Antipas was the first Bishop of the city of Pergamum, which in his time was described in Revelation as "where Satan dwells," due to its deep roots in paganism. 

 

To the west of the Acropolis, the Selinus River (modern Bergamaçay) flows through the city, and in his biography we are told that it was from this river that the martyred body of Saint Antipas was found by Christians after being roasted in a bronze bull, and they buried him with honors.

Not many years later, a huge cult complex known as the Serapeum was built at the foot of the Acropolis to the Egyptian gods during the time of Emperor Hadrian (117-138), a gift to the city of Pergamum, which Rome conquered peacefully. The last King of Pergamum, Attalus III, called Philometor, reigned for five years from 138 to 133 BC. He was the son of Eumenes II Soter and Stratonice and during his tenure he distinguished himself more as a botanist than as a king. When he died, he was childless and bequeathed his territory to the Roman state on the condition that Pergamum's autonomy be maintained.

The Church of Saint Antipas in the Turkish-Occupied Village of Pyroi in Cyprus

The Church of Saint Antipas is located to the west of the Turkish-occupied village of Pyroi in Cyprus and its precincts were used as a cemetery. The church is a four-column, cruciform church with a dome and dates back to the Middle Byzantine period (8th-12th century). It is estimated that it was built in the era before the Turkish occupation of Cyprus (1571) and could perhaps be the oldest church in Cyprus. The church was renovated in 1942, according to an inscription. Today, the Church of Saint Antipas in the occupied village of Pyroi is in a poor condition due to the village being largely uninhabited, as it lies within the military area and can only be visited with permission of the Turkish military. It needs immediate maintenance and restoration.

April: Day 11: Holy Hieromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

April: Day 11:
Holy Hieromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum
 
(Without Labors and Exploits One Cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. In the Apocalypse of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian it is said that the Lord in a revelation to Saint John commanded him to write to seven angels, i.e. to the bishops of the seven Churches of Asia Minor. At the same time, mention is made of Saint Antipas, who was Bishop of the Church in Pergamum, whose memory is celebrated today:

“And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamum write... I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” (Revelation 2:13).