Westernmost peninsula of Asia, name first used by Orosius, c.400;also known as Anatolia and the Levant. After receiving Greck civilization through the victories of Alexander it became a prosperous Roman province, combining the advantages of both civilizations. Christianity was introduced by the Apostles Peter, Paul, and John, and spread more rapidly than in any other part of the Roman Empire. It was the home of Saints Irenreus, Polycarp, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, Basil the Great, and John Chrysostom, and the seat of the first General Council (Nicaea, 325). Divided into two ecclesiastical provinces, Asia under Constantinople, and Pontus under Antioch, it included more than 300 episcopal sees, one for practically every town. Though protected for a short time from the Moslem invasions by the Byzantine Empire, Asia Minor has been controlled by the Turks since the 11th century, and a vicariate Apostolic has replaced the ruined sees. see also Turkey.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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