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 By
the end of the 2nd century a large Christian community had
formed in Cappadocia. It is known that there were two
bishoprics at that time; one in Kayseri, which, for a long
time, continued to be a Christian centre in the region and
the other in Malatya.
In the 3rd century, priests with good character changed the
region into a lively centre of Christian activity. In the
4th century Cappadocia became known as the land of the three
saints; St. Basil the Great, Bishop of Kayseri; his brother
St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. George of Nazianzus. These
three men created a new
unity in Christian thought, and many of St. Basil's thoughts
and
actions are still important today. An example of his
doctrine is the advice to Christian with one piece of bread
in a famine. He said that the Christians should give half
of the bread to a fellow believer and trust in God to take
care of him. St. Basil founded small, secluded settlements
not too far away from villages and towns. Daily worship was
carried out under the supervision of a preacher. These
groups were not; however, privileged groups separated from
the community like similar communities in Egypt and Syria.
St. Basil is important in that he introduced worship within
the community. He was not at all bigoted.
Goreme Open Air Museum is the place where this kind of
religious education was started. The same model was then
introduced in Soganli, Ihlara and Aciksaray.
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