Early Churches With St.Paul & St.John
Early Churches With St.Paul & St.John
Overview
15 Nights – 16 Days
Included
- 15 nights hotel accommodation
- English speaking biblical oriented professional tour guide
- Entry fees to sites and museums as in the program
- A/C transportation throughout
- Meals as in the program
- Local taxes and service charges
Excluded
- Flights
- Drinks and meals which are not listed at the itinerary
- All personal expenses
- Turkish Visa Fee
- Tips to the tour guide and driver
Tour Plans
Day 1
ARRIVE ADANA
Meet at the airport after clearing passport control and drive to Antioch . Before dinner, a Welcome Briefing will be presented by your English speaking guide, who will accompany you throughout the entire tour.
Day 2
FULL DAY IN ANTIOCH
Antioch was the headquarters of St. Paul 's Missionary Journeys. It was the third largest city of the Roman Empire , rivaled only by Rome and Alexandria . Sts. Peter, Paul, Barnabas and Timothy all preached in this place where Jesus followers were first called Christians. Visit the cave church where St. Peter first celebrated Mass. South of the church, the Iron Gate was one of the actual entrances of Biblical Antioch; strolling through the old part of the city, you cannot help recalling the saints who walked these old streets, for little has changed since that time. Then drive to Seleucia Peria mentioned in the New Testament as the port from which St. Paul and St. Barnabas set sail for Anatolia on their first missionary journey (45-46 AD). Visit the Temple of Zeus for a birds eye view of the harbor, and then visit the famous Titus water tunnel. Return to hotel for overnight.
Day 3
ANTIOCH - TARSUS - CAPPADOCIA
Drive to Tarsus ; visit the birthplace of St. Paul (10 AD) and drink from the well of the blessed water. Continue on to Cappadocia , land of unique landscapes and the unusual rock formations called fairy chimneys. Early inhabitants carved the soft volcanic rock to create underground dwellings that eventually grew to become entire cities where as many as six thousand Christians hid to escape persecution. Elaborate churches-by some counts over a thousand of them-were also carved in the porous rock, and lavishly decorated with frescoes; many of these 9th to 11th century art works still remain. Transfer to hotel for overnight.
Day 4
CAPPADOCIA
Full day exploring Cappadocia . Visit Goreme Open Air Museum , Avanos, the pottery making town, the natural Citadel of Uchisar and the monastic Zelve Valley .
Day 5
CAPPADOCIA
Visit the Ihlara Valley including painted cave churches, Guzelyurt (Karballa), the birthplace of St. Gregory of Nazianzus and the underground city of Kaymakli . Return to hotel for overnight.
Day 6
CAPPADOCIA - KONTA - ANTALYA
Early departure to Konya . Visit the Mevlana Museum and the 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery. After lunch, drive to Antalya .
Day 7
DEMRE - HIERAPOLIS - PAMUKKALE
Early departure to Demre, one of the six great cities of the Lycian civilization which was first settled in the 5th century B.C. The rock tombs, theater and Church of St. Nicholas commemorate the life and work of this fourth century bishop. Saint Nicholas provided the dowries for three poor girls who would not have been able to marry otherwise; the beginning of our tradition of Christmas giving. Continue to Hierapolis , where we will visit the Martyrium of St. Philip amidst the sites extensive ruins. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 8
PAMUKKLAE - HIERAPOLIS - LAODICEA
Complete the tour of Hierapolis , see the wonderful formation of stalactites in Pamukkale ( Cotton Castle ), the Roman Bath which later became a church, then visit Laodicea , one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation, continue to Kusadasi for overnight.T
Day 9
PATMOS - KUSADASI
Today well travel by private boat to the Greek Island of Patmos , location of the cave where John wrote the Book of Revelation, and also spend time at St. Johns Monastery. Return to Kusadasi for overnight.
Day 10
EPHESUS - IZMIR
Depart for Ephesus , cradle of the early Church. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, ancient Ephesus, the Archaeological Museum, the Temple of Diana (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), the grave and Basilica of St. John. Dinner and overnight in Izmir .
Day 11
SARDIS - PHILADEPHIA - IZMIR
After mass at the Church of St. Polycarp, travel to Sardis, the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, and the church which was built on the foundations of the Temple of Artemis. After traveling to Philadelphia , return to Izmir . Balance of the afternoon is free to explore the city and its ancient bazaar. Overnight in Izmir .
Day 10
EPHESUS - IZMIR
Depart for Ephesus , cradle of the early Church. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, ancient Ephesus, the Archaeological Museum, the Temple of Diana (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), the grave and Basilica of St. John. Dinner and overnight in Izmir .
Day 11
SARDIS - PHILADEPHIA - IZMIR
After mass at the Church of St. Polycarp, travel to Sardis, the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, and the church which was built on the foundations of the Temple of Artemis. After traveling to Philadelphia , return to Izmir . Balance of the afternoon is free to explore the city and its ancient bazaar. Overnight in Izmir .
Day 12
PERGAMUM - BURSA
Depart to Pergamum to see the Asclepion, the ancient hospital whose approach to medicine was remarkably modern, the Acropolis, the church at the site of ancient Serapium, and the Red Court dedicated to St. John . Continue to Bursa ; visit the Green Mosque and the Green Mausoleum. Overnight in Bursa .
Day 13
BURSA - NICEA - IZNIK - ISTANBUL
Drive to Iznik (ancient Nicea) via the beautiful Iznik lake road. Two ecumenical councils were held here: the First Ecumenical Council of 325 and the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787. Visit the ruins of the Hagia Sophia Church where the Seventh Ecumenical Council was held. In the afternoon, drive to Istanbul , the only city in the world spanning two continents; transfer to hotel., Evening at leisure.
Day 14
ISTANBUL
A full day of sightseeing in Istanbul . Visit the Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, the Roman Hippodrome, and Topkapi Museum , the Imperial Residential Palace of the Ottoman sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries and the oldest and largest of the remaining palaces in the world. Its displays include priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain and costumes of the sultans. In the afternoon, take a boat trip through the Bosphorus Strait , viewing the mosques, palaces, old traditional wooden villas and the beauty of the Asian and European shorelines on each side. Evening at leisure.
Day 15
ISTANBUL
In the morning, visit Hagia Sophia Museum , built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the worlds greatest architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site. After lunch, visit Chora Church , including beautiful mosaics, Afterwards, we'll have the opportunity to go shopping at the Grand Bazaar. This evening, we gather for a farewell dinner.
Day 16
ISTANBUL - END
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for your flight home.
Information Form
ROUND TRIP TOURS
BIBLICAL TOURS
THEME TOURS
SHORE EXCURSIONS IN TURKİYE
