Greece & Turkey Tours

10 Day Visit to the Seven Churches of Revelation in Asia Minor

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via Turkish Airlines, Alitalia Airlines

DAY 1 – LEAVE U.S.A.
Depart on Turkish Airlines for Istanbul.

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL / TOPKAPI PALACE / ST. IRENE CHURCH
Arrive in Istanbul late morning. Drive to Topkapi Palace where we will have lunch overlooking the Sea of Marmara. At the entrance of Topkapi Palace we visit the Church of Irene built by Justinian in 537 AD. It is now used as a concert hall. Constantine built the first church here in 330. The second Ecumenical Council was held here in 381. The foundations of St. Irene are on a Roman Temple to Aphrodite. It is the oldest church in Istanbul. After lunch we will tour the Palace. We will see some of wealth and riches of the Ottoman Empire. We will go to our hotel and relax until dinner.

DAY 3 – ISTANBUL / CHORA CHURCH / NICAEA
After breakfast we tour the spice market and the Church of St. Saviour in the Chora Monastery. The Mosaics and frescoes inside are masterpieces of Byzantine art. The existing edifice is dated to the eleventh thru the fourteenth centuries. We travel to Iznik (Nicaea). The first Ecumenical Council was held here in 325 at the palace of Constantine on the shore of the lake. This Council condemned the heresy of Bishop Arius and affirmed the human and divine nature of Jesus. Also, the creed of Nicaea was set forth. Nicaea was known for its beautiful tile. Beautiful pottery can be purchased today. The church Hagia Sophia was built by Justinian in the sixth century. The seventh Ecumenical Council was held at the church in 787. We will have lunch here, visit the sites and return to Istanbul for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4 – ISTANBUL / HAGAI SOPHIA / BLUE MOSQUE / IZMIR / ST. POLYCARP'S CHURCH
After breakfast, we visit Hagia Sophia which for 1000 years was the largest church in Christendom. It was built by Justinian in 532-537 AD. The church has 107 columns, fossil embedded white marble floors and beautiful glass mosaics. Today it is a museum of Byzantine art. We proceed to the Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior tile decoration. We then go to the airport for our flight to Izmir (Smyrna), one of the seven churches (Rev. 2, 8-11). We lunch in Izmir and then visit St. Polycarp's Church and we will have a service there. We then go to the region of Kadifekale (Mt. Pagus) and visit the Roman Agora. This is a small open square about halfway between Kadifekale and Konak; a line of thirteen columns of the west stoa are still capped with their acanthus capitals. On a hill below Kadifekale, Polycarp was tried in a public gathering in the stadium by the Roman governor. If time permits, we can do some shopping and then go to the hotel to relax and have dinner. Overnight in Izmir.

DAY 5 – PERGAMUM / THYATIRA
After breakfast we leave for Bergama or Pergamum, one of the seven churches (Rev. 2, 12-17). We will visit the majestic Acropolis, the foundations of Zeus, the Temple to Athena, the ruins of the library, the Grand Theater, the ruins of the so-called Red Court, the Church of St. John, and the Health Center, and museum. Christianity reached the city very early. In Pergamum, the first Christians were executed by Rome. We will have lunch and then go to Thyatira. It was a busy trading center and famous as a "seller of purple". Thyatira is one of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev. 1, 11:2,18-29) and Paul may have visited the town during his missionary journeys (Acts 19, 10). South of Lake Akhisar are the ruins of a church. We then drive back to Izmir and stay overnight.

DAY 6 – SARDIS / PHILADELPHIA / HEIROPOLIS
After breakfast we drive to Sardis, one of the seven churches (Rev. 3,1-6). This church was berated by John for its facade of strength when in reality it was weak. In Sardis, coins were minted and the dyeing of wool originated. You will be impressed by the size of the gymnasium, the Jew¼s synagogue, the white marble road, the massive scale of the temple of Artemis in ruins and the church by it with round walls and arched windows. We then travel to Philadelphia (one of the seven churches). John writes to the church in Rev. 3, 7-13. Frequent earthquakes and volcanos have left only two heavy columns. Jesus gives them the promise that whoever "conquers in Him shall be pillars in His temple". We travel to Hieropolis. This city is blessed with mineral springs. Christianity was brought to Hieropolis via Paul (Colossians 4, 13). The Roman ruins cover more than a mile. On our tour we will see an impressive amphitheater, city gates, column lined streets, a Christian basilica, the martyruins of St. Philip. This was built honoring the Apostle Philip who is thought to have been martyred here. We go to our hotel in Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7 – LAODICEA / COLOSSAE / MILETUS / KUSADASI
Today we go to Laodicea. This is one of the seven churches. (Rev. 3,14-22). The church was chastised for being lukewarm "You are neither cold nor hot" (Rev. 3, 14) and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. Next we go to Colossae. The town is in obscurity. While you can see traces of the theater, the church, the ancient city is mostly in undistinguishable ruins. It has not been excavated. The church here was the recipient of Paul's letter to the Colossians. Next we go to Miletus. It is here where Paul visited with the elders of Ephesus (Acts 1:17:38), on his return It is here where Paul visited with the elders of Ephesus. Acts 1, 17-38, on his return to Jerusalem completing his third Missionary Journey. We drive to Kusadasi and have a magnificent view of the blue Aegean Sea. We have dinner and overnight at Kusadasi.

DAY 8 – EPHESUS / KUSADASI
After breakfast we travel to Ephesus (one of the seven churches Rev. 2, 1-7). During the first century AD Ephesus was the largest and the most important city in antiquity. St. Paul came to Ephesus in 53 AD. For three years first in the synagogues and then everywhere in the city he preached the Gospel and gained followers. He also established the church of Ephesus. We visit the church of St. John. In the fourth century, a wooden church was built over his tomb. The emperor Justinian enlarged the church 527-565. John and the mother of Jesus lived in Ephesus. Mary died in Ephesus. A church was built in her honor. In fact a number of churches were built as some were destroyed. The third Ecumenical Council was held in Ephesus at this church in 431. This Council accepted that the virgin Mary lived here with John and died there. Visit the house of Mary. Walk through the streets of this historic town and see the many public buildings, the baths, the temple of Hadrian, the great theater, the library of Celsus, the Agora, the temple of Artemis. We will have lunch in Selcuk. Then we will visit the museum of Ephesus. There may be some time for shopping. We return to the hotel in Kusadasi, have dinner and stay overnight.

DAY 9 – IZMIR / ISTANBUL
After breakfast, we will drive to Izmir Airport and fly to Istanbul. We will visit the Archaeological Museum. See the Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great. It dates back to the fourth century B.C. It was discovered during excavation of the Royal Cemetery in Sidon. Room 15 contains the bust of Alexander the Great. Look at the three stones from Palestine. One stone found at the excavation at Gezer, is carved with the oldest known Hebrew writing, dating to the tenth Century BC. The next stone was taken from Hezekiah's tunnel in Jerusalem. It relates the joy of the men tunneling to connect the spring water of Gihon with the pool of Siloam when they hear the blows of each others axes (701 BC). The third, the largest stone is in Greek so the gentiles would know (these stones were placed outside of the Temple in Jerusalem) the limit beyond which non-Jew was permitted to approach the holy ground. Then we will visit the Grand Bazaar with over 3,000 shops. Optional for the rest of the afternoon would be more shopping, or a boat ride on the Bosphorus, or a blimp ride over the Bosphorus – (this would be an extra cost). We go to our hotel, relax and enjoy our last dinner in Istanbul.

DAY 10 – ISTANBUL / USA
After breakfast, we drive to the airport and board our return flight to the USA.

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