Metropolis of Philadelphia

The Metropolis of Philadelphia (Greek: Μητρόπολη Φιλαδελφείας) was an ecclesiastical territory (diocese) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in western Asia Minor, modern Turkey. Christianity in the city of Philadelphia, was introduced before the middle of the 1st century AD. Today the Metropolis of Philadelphia is the see of a titular Orthodox metropolitan.

Philadelphia (modern Alaşehir) was one of the oldest dioceses of Asia Minor, established during the 1st century AD. It was one of the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation, by John the Apostle.

From 325 AD it was the see of a bishop under the jurisdiction of the metropolitan of Sardis. The bishopric of Philadelphia was promoted to metropolis in ca. 1190, during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelos (1185–1195).

As a result of the gradual Turkish conquest of western Anatolia during the 14th century, the Christian population decreased dramatically and consequently several bishoprics and metropolises became inactive. Philadelphia however managed to avoid the fate of the rest of the Byzantine domains in the region, and remained an isolated Byzantine exclave surrounded by various Turkish states. At that time the local metropolitans played an essential role in the city's affairs, as exemplified by the metropolitan and scholar Theoleptos (1293 – before 1326), who was also in charge of the defence of Philadelphia when it was besieged by the Turks in 1310: he was considered by contemporary chroniclers as the "savior of the city". In 1382 the local metropolis was expanded and incorporated parts of the former metropolis of Lydia.

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