Cappadocia and Cappadocian Christians

       The written history of Cappadocia begins with the Hittities,but evidence shows human habitation as far back as the Paleolithic period.However,the written records of the Hittities,1700 BC and the Assyrian trading colonies indicates the importance Cappadocia played in the commerce and trading during the Bronze Age between distant lands.These crossroads continued well into the 14th century AD with the Silk Road from China.

The first Dark Age of Cappadocia came with the fall of the Hittitie Empire c. 1200 BC.Following period became known as the Neo-Hittitie,a mixture of Assyrian and Phrygian influences.This continued until the arrival of the Persians in 6th century BC.But the coming of Alexander the Great in 332 BC brought hellenism to the region and began Cappadocia's rise from the dark period.
       The Kings of Cappadocia became more Greek in thinking and farther hellenized the region.By the late 2nd century BC the presence of Rome was being felt and by the middle of the 1st century BC the Kings of Cappadocia were actually being appointed or removed from power by Roman generals. Marc Antony had his hand in the making and breaking of Cappadocian kings.
Landscapes of Cappadocia

       In 17 AD the last Cappadocian king had died and Cappadocia became a province of Rome. This was done in an effort to create a buffer zone between the Parthians in the east the Roman client kingdoms and provinces to west.The Roman Emperor Tiberius believed that this would help relieve some of the tax pressures on the citizens of Rome by adding this new province to the Empire.

       The few cities in Cappadocia grew as the region stabilized with Roman presence.Roads were built and Roman Legions patrolled the borders of the province.Although this did not bring peace to the region, invasions by the Parthians,Goths,and Persians continued. The Persians being the greatest threat and always ready to attack the Roman provinces when it seemed that Rome had its back turn to the east.Even Palmyra,a onetime ally of Rome claimed the domains of Rome as its own,causing the Emperor to march legions from one war in Europe to another war in the East.
       The 3rd century AD saw changes within the province of Cappadocia,Christianity had taken root and Cappadocia was becoming a Christian center for learning and thinking.The persecutions of 303-308 AD were felt, but Cappadocia provided an excellent place to hide from the persecutions and continued on with the teachings of Christ.The hidden valleys and soft volcanic rock made it the prefect place to create places of worship and to be secure from pagan Roman soldiers.
       In Cappadocia The 4th century AD saw the birth of several persons who would later become known as "the Cappadocian Fathers"; Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus, all of whom became Saints. There were many other Christian saints which were martyrs who were either from Cappadocia or martyred there.

In cappadocia With Constantine the Great's edict of religious tolerance,the Christian centers grew in Cappadocia, but biggest growth came about because of the Iconoclastic period (726-843 AD). Again Cappadocia provided the clergy the perfect place to hide and display Icons as they saw fit and the monasteries of Cappadocia grew from this.Also during this period the Arabs began many raids into Anatolia forcing the Christians from the more eastern parts namely Armenia to the canyons of Cappadocia.This influx of new peoples caused a change in the style of the Churches of the area.
       By the 11th and 12th centuries the Cappadocian monasteries were surrouned by the Seljuks, but coexisted without problems even with the coming of the Ottoman Turks in the 14th century. The last of the Greek Christians left Cappadocia in 1922-23 in the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, leaving some beautiful examples of Greek architecture behind.now a day like we mentiond this greek architectures are using by local people as hotel,Urgup cave Hotels,Goreme Cave Suites Hotel,old Cave dwelings changed into Hotels,There are Many Cappadocian cave Hotels,boutique hotel,luxury hotels,authentic greek style cappadocia hotels,so these with this way people keep them originaly for example rose hotels in mustafa pasa,greek house hotels in sinasos so cappadocia is takes it is place in tourism in modern turkey

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