Communities and cities
The seven churches refer to Christian communities in western Anatolia, rather than seven surviving church buildings. Their names connect the Book of Revelation with ancient cities and different archaeological landscapes.
The seven locations
The sequence includes Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Modern İzmir, Akhisar and Alaşehir help locate some of these places. Separate archaeological interpretation from devotional time.
A Patmos extension
Patmos adds the tradition associated with John and Revelation, but involves travel to Greece. A western Turkey journey and its island extension need distinct transport, accommodation and entry-document checks.