Seven Churches of Revelation Footsteps of Paul – The Bible in Asia Minor
Day 1 Arrival day to Istanbul
Airport welcome and escort to hotel. This evening a welcome dinner will be served at hotel.
Dinner and overnight Istanbul
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2 Tour of city sites, Istanbul
Arrive and transfer to the Old City by following the city walls to Chora Museum, ‘Church of St. Saviour in Chora’. A masterpiece in the Byzantine art with its well preserved mosaics and frescoes. Then to the Church of St. Sophia (6th c. AD), a masterpiece Byzantine Christian Architecture and one of the oldest and largest cathedrals of the world. Cross the street to visit the Basilica Underground Cistern, a mystic atmosphere carried by 336 columns.
Dinner and overnight Istanbul
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 3 Tour of city sites, Istanbul
Visit the Hippodrome area, the remnant of an arena built in the reign of Septimus Severus. From here we will proceed to the 17th century Blue Mosque, so called due to its more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles that adorn the interior walls. We will the Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans who reigned over the world for four centuries from 15th to 19th century. We will see the mysterious Harem and the treasury of Topkapi.
We will continue our exploration of Istanbul by visiting the Istanbul Archaeology Museums to enjoy a Hellenistic Masterpiece of Art: the Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great with impressive sculptural reliefs.In the museum also see the ‘’Siloam Inscription’’ , ‘’Gezer Calendar’’ and ‘’Treaty of Kadesh’’ – the tablet of first treaty in the history.
Dinner and overnight Istanbul
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4 Istanbul – Iznik (Nicea) and Bursa
This morning before leaving Istanbul we will visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest of it kind. After a couple of hours at the Bazaar. We will cross the Bosphorus straight to Asia and drive to Iznik knows as ancient Nicea where the Nicean Creed comes from. In the 4th century (325 AD) Nicene Council was held on the shore of Nicea Lake. The second Ecumenical Council was held in 787 AD. We will visit the Roman city walls, as well as the church of St. Sophia. We will continue on to Bursa the first capital of the Ottoman Turks. In Bursa we will visit the great masterpieces of early Ottoman Turkish architecture; the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb, and Grand Mosque. Relax with a Turkish Bath in the hot springs. Dinner and overnight Bursa.
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5 Bursa – Canakkale
After breakfast we will visit the silk factories before leaving Bursa traveling west to Canakkale crossing the Thracian Plains. We will visit the ruins of Troy the legendary stage for Homer’s Iliad. We will visit the city’s nine different settlements at the hill of Hisarlik and the replica of the famous Trojan horse.
Dinner and overnight Canakkale
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6 Canakkale – Ayvalik
Our drive today will take us to the site of Alexandria Troas. Paul on his second missionary journey, was in Troas when he had a vision of a man from Macedonia inviting him to come to Macedonia (Europe) and help us. (Acts 16:8-12). On the way back from his third missionary journey Paul walked by land from Alexandria Troas to Assos to embark for Mytilene.
Dinner and overnight in the seaside town of Ayvalik
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 7 Ayvalik – Izmir
This morning as we depart we will take a short drive to Bergama-ancient Pergamon. Early Christian martyr Antipas was tortured to death here. Pergamon was the site of many temples to pagan Gods. Yet Christianity took a stronghold here as early as 2nd century, attested by the monumental size of Basilica of St. John.
Pergamon was the capital city of Hellenistic Kingdom of Pergamon. Pergamenese Library was the second richest library of the ancient world after the library in Alexandriapolis, Egypt. The city of Pergamon was also where parchement paper was invented. Here you will visit the Basilica of St John (The Red Church), the temples of Zeus and Emperor Trajan, the Hellenistic theatre and the library site.
Short drive to the hospital site of Pergamon, named as Asklepion. Asklepion was among the three most famed hospitals of the ancient world. Our drive will continue to Thyatira to visit the remains of the church mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Rev 2:18-29). We will continue on to Izmir. Dinner and overnight Izmir
Meal plan : Breakfast & Dinner
Day 8 Izmir – Pamukkale
Izmir is ancient Smyrna one of the seven churches in Revelation. St. Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna, one of the disciples of St. John. We will visit St. Polycarp Church. We will take a morning drive to Sardis (Rev.3:1-6), the capital city of Lydian Kingdom. Sardis was one of the very rich metropolises of Asia Minor with crowded populations of Jews which might have enabled the Good News to be heard at a faster. The site is presently under the excavation of Harvard and Berkeley Universities. The city was where the richest man on earth, King Croesus enjoyed an incredible power and wealth. Lydians invented and minted the first coins in the world. We will visit one of the oldest synagogues of the world which was later converted into a church. We will also visit the monumental Artemis Temple and the impressively restored Roman Imperial Hall.
As we continue our journey we will have a short visit at ancient Philadelphia to see the remaining walls of a monumental church. Philadelphia together with Symrna was one of the two seven churches of Asia Minor which did not receive any critisizm about applications of Christianity.
Continueing on to Laodicea, the last of the seven churches where John called its Christians Lukewarm. Recent Turkish excavations on the site are revealing the walls of a what might have been a monumental church.
Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 9 Pamukkale – Kusadasi
Morning visit to Hierapolis where Apostle Philip came to spread the Christianity, and is believed to have lived and martyred here. Hierapolis is mentioned in St. Paul’s epistle to the Colossians (Colossian 4:13). We will explore one of the richest cemetery grounds of the ancient world, the main Domitian Gate and the main avenue. We will also see the white travertine cascades of Pamukkale. Pamukkale is a unique site in the world, declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO Cultural Department. After visiting Hierapolis drive to Miletos, a great Greco-Roman metropolis which was the home of early Greek philosophers and the scientists, including Thales and Hippodamos.
On his way to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey, Paul asked the elders of Ephesus to meet him in Miletos where he predicted his own death visit the ancient theatre site as well as the port area where Paul said a sentimental goodbye to the church Elders from Ephesus.
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 10 Kusadasi (Ephesus)
Today we visit the glorious city of Ephesus. Ephesus was the capital city of Roman Province of Asia Minor; it is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; Temple of Artemis, and the site of the third richest library of the ancient world; Celsus library.
Paul came to Ephesus in 54 AD. and stayed for three years. He preached the Gospel, gained followers and also established the church of Ephesus.
John (author of Revelations according to the New Testament) also spend his last years in Ephesus. John is believed to have been buried within the Basilica of St. John.
A strong tradition in the Catholic Church claims that St. John brought Virgin Mary to Ephesus and she ascended to heaven from Ephesus.
Our visit to Ephesus will include the archaeological site and Museum of Selcuk (Ephesus Museum), the Basilica of St. John and the House of Virgin Mary.
We will also visit Hierapolis drive to the Roman city of Aphrodisias, which is one of the most prestigious excavation sites in the world, funded by National Geographic Society. The city of Goddess Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty, the artists from Aphrodisias produced some of the most sophisticated sculptures of the ancient world. We will visit the local archaeological museum where we will see a wonderful collection of art work from Aphrodisias.
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 11 Depart form Izmir Airport
After breakfast transfer to airport for your connection flight.
Meal plan: Breakfast
HOTELS 4* & 5* COMBINATION
ISTANBUL ZURICH HOTEL www.hotelzurichistanbul.com
BURSA TIARA THERMAL HOTEL www.tiaratermal.com
CANAKKALE AKOL HOTEL www.hotelakol.com
AYVALIK GRAND TEMIZEL HOTEL www.temizel.com.tr
RAMADA PLAZA IZMIR HOTEL www.ramadaplazaizmir.com
PAMUKKALE RICHMOND HOTEL www.richmondint.com.tr
EFE BOUTIQUE HOTEL www.efeboutiquehotel.com
(All Hotels are subject to availibilirty)
INCLUDES
3 nights accommodation in Istanbul H/B
1 night accommodation in Bursa H/B
1 night accommodation in Canakkale H/B
1 night accommodation in Ayvalik H/B
1 night accommodation in Izmir H/B
1 nights accommodation in Pamukkale H/B
2 night accommodation in Kusadasi H/B
All Transportaion with a/c Luxery Bus
Entrance fees mentioned on the program
Professional English Speaking guide
EXCLUDES
All domestic flight tickets
Lunches
Personal expences
Drinks ate the meals
MEAL PREFERENCE
Breakfast Local and International Foods, at the hotel, Hot Buffet
Dinner Local and International Foods, at the hotel, Hot Buffet
Drinks are NOT included
