In ancient geography, inland district of Asia Minor, consisting of an elevated plateau traversed by the Anti-Taurus range. At one time it was the seat of Hittite power. In A.D. 17 it was reduced by Rome to a province and later, A.D. 70, was joined to Armenia Minor. As ecclesiastical province it was subject to Antioch, and the Byzantine Rite was first used here. Christianity was preached by Saint Andrew, and, in the 4th century, by three Fathers of the Church, Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, and Saint Gregory of Nyssa.