The Basilica of St. John was built in the 6th century, and is believed to have been built on the tomb of St. John the Apostle. Not much is known about it, the only historical reference a small description:
There chanced to be a certain place before the city of
Ephesus, lying on a steep slope hilly and bare of soil and incapable of
producing crops, even should one attempt to cultivate them, but altogether hard
and rough. On that site the natives had set up a church in early times to the
Apostle John; this Apostle has been named “the Theologian,” because the nature
of God was described by him in a manner beyond the unaided power of man. This
church, which was small and in a ruined condition because of its great age, the
Emperor Justinian tore down to the ground and replaced by a church so large and
beautiful, that, to speak briefly, it resembles very closely in all respects,
and is a rival to, the shrine which is dedicated to all the apostles in the
imperial city.
It was built of stone and bricks, with
columns of marble, or stone columns covered in marble. The basilica was a compound, with meeting
rooms, gardens, a monastery, and rooms for people to read and study.
It is hard to picture now, but the interior would have been entirely
covered with lavish mosaics to rival any in Constantinople.
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