Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, Pamphylia, Perga, Attalia — these cities are in what is now Turkey. Despite their apostolic origins, despite the preaching of St. Paul they have no Christian presence to speak of today. Syrian Antioch, a city that had St. Peter as the first bishop, was under attack during the Civil War and how the Christian minority survived is not clear. All of which is to say we cannot presume on the faith. The example of these apostolic Churches proves that just because the Irish or Mexicans or Italians have a Catholic heritage does not mean they will stay Catholic. If the faith is to be preserved it must be nourished and developed not on the institutional level but on the personal.
MAY212019
By Church Staff
