Seven churches of Asia

According to Revelation 1:11, on the island of Patmos in the far east of the Aegean Sea, Jesus instructed John of Patmos to "[w]rite in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

Although the letters differ in length in accord with the needs of each community, all conclude with an appeal to hold fast and to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

"[9] He is of the opinion that the letters have a prophetic purpose disclosing the seven phases of the spiritual history of the Church.

The dispensations take into account almost nothing of Orthodox history after the period of the early councils which we share with the West.

Much of what is said is rebuke and admonishment, so if the angels are heavenly beings, they may serve in some way as representatives of the sinful people in their churches.

There is even a story of Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, being rebuked by God for the sins committed in the time of Ezekiel.

[22] The Seven Churches of Asia is divided into three primary sections: an introduction written by English clergyman and Biblical scholar H. B. Tristram, Svoboda's personal travel account visiting the Seven Churches sites, and an itinerary detailing Svoboda's route.

Photographs from Svoboda's Seven Churches project were exhibited in the rooms of the Arundel Society in London in 1868.