Cave of the Seven Sleepers

The Cave of the Seven Sleepers, located in present-day Selcuk, Turkey, is steeped in a third-century legend. According to the story, several Christian men sought refuge in this cave to evade persecution by the Roman Emperor Trajan Decius. They fell into a deep sleep, only to awaken 250 years later, finding that Christianity had become widely accepted in Ephesus. The cave, where the ‘seven sleepers’ were eventually buried, transformed into a significant pilgrimage site. Today, visitors can explore this historic and mystical location, experiencing the same setting that has captivated pilgrims for centuries.