Echoes of Paul's Early Christianity in Türkiye: Aa Intellectual, Spiritual, and Pastoral Journey

June 7 Sun ARRIVE HATAY AIRPORT – ANTAKYA
Meet with “TUTKU” sign and transfer to the MUSEUM HOTEL in ANTAKYA. Dinner and overnight in Antakya. (D)

June 8 Mon ANTAKYA
07:00-08:15 Breakfast
08:15-08:30 Welcome – Levent Oral, Erin Dailey
08:30-9:00 “Introduction to Antioch on the Orontes”
09:00-09:40 Lecture 1
09:45-10:25 Lecture 2
10:25-10:55 Coffee Break
10:55-11:35 Lecture 3
11:40-12:20 Lecture 4
12:30-13:30 Lunch at the hotel
13:30-14:30 Tour of museum and remains at Museum Hotel
14:35-15:30 Church of Saint Peter and Charonion
15:35-17:00 Antakya Museum
17:05-18:00 Hippodrome and Temple
18:00-19:00 Free time
19:00-20:30 Dinner at the hotel

June 9 Tue ANTAKYA
07:00-08:30 Breakfast
08:30-09:10 Lecture 5
09:15-09:55 Lecture 6 Mark Wilson “Peter in Antioch: History and Tradition”
09:55-10:20 Coffee Break
10:25-11:05 Lecture 7 Jason Borges “Ignatius and the Church in Antioch after Paul and Peter
11:15-12:45 Drive to Samandağ
12:45-14:00 Lunch in Samandağ
14:05-15:30 Seleucia Pieria and Titus Tunnel
15:35-17:00 Simon Stylites Monastery (if open)
17:00-17:45 Return to the hotel
18:00-19:00 Lecture 8 Douglas Jacoby “The Church at Antioch Polity, Planning and Providence”
19:00 Dinner at the hotel

June 10 Wed TARSUS – FLY CYPRUS
07:00-08:00 Breakfast, check out, and load luggage
08:00-12:00 Drive to Tarsus
12:00-13:00 Donuktaş and Roman Bridge at Danyel Mosque
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:00 Tarsus Museum and Roman Street
15:00-15:30 Drive to Çukurova International Airport
17:25-18:00 Pegasus flight to Ercan
18:00-19:30 Passport control and depart airport for hotel
19:30-21:00 Check in and dinner at hotel in Northern Cyprus

June 11 Thu SALAMIS & GIRNE - CYPRUS
07:00-08:00 Breakfast
08:00-09:00 Drive to Salamis
09:00-11:30 Tour Salamis and Barnabas Church.
11:30-13:30 Lunch Famagusta
13:30-15:00 Drive to Girne
15:00-16:00 Shipwreck Museum and Girne Castle
16:00-17:30 Free time
17:30-18:00 Return to Hotel
19:00 Dinner and overnight Northern Cyprus

June 12 Fri PAPHOS - CYPRUS
06:00-07:00 Breakfast
07:00-11:00 Departure and drive to Paphos
11:00-12:30 Visit ancient city with mosaics
12:30-14:00 Lunch at Paphos harbor area
14:00-17:30 Drive back to hotel
19:00 Dinner and overnight Northern Cyprus

June 13 Sat FLY ANTALYA
06:00-06:45 Breakfast, check out and load luggage
06:45-07:30 Drive to Ercan airport
09:30-10:15 Flight to Antalya
11:30-13:00 Visit Perga
13:45-15:00 Lunch at the St. Paul Cultural Center
15:00-17:00 Walking tour of Attalia, its port, Hadrian’s gate, and Necropolis Museum.
17:00-19:00 Free time
19:00 Dinner and overnight in Antalya

June 14 Sun Colossae - Laodicea - Karahayit
We drive through the Lycus Valley. We enjoy a stop at Colossae, which is now beginning excavations. Our next stop is Laodicea, which was a major city in Roman times, as is clear from not only the size of the ancient site but also its two theatres, stadium, aqueduct and major, street lined with shops. Laodicea is not only the last of the seven churches to whom John directed the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:14-22), but it also had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13-15) and was the recipient of one of Paul’s now lost letters (Col. 4:16). Stay in Karahayit for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

June 15 Mon Hierapolis - Philadelphia - Sardis
Hierapolis, With its hot thermal springs well-known already in the ancient world for its medicinal qualities as well its spectacular white travertine terraces, Hierapolis remains just as popular with travelers today as it was in biblical times. Equally impressive, however, are the remains of the ancient city: the Arch of Domitian, a colonnaded street and marketplace, ancient baths, a 20,000-seat theatre built in 200 BC, the largest ancient graveyard in Anatolia containing over 1,200 tombs, tumuli and sarcophagi, and the Martyrium of St. Philip, a 5th century AD structure on the site where Philip— either the apostle or the evangelist (Acts 6:1-7; 21:8-9; Acts of Philip)—was believed to have been killed in AD 80. We then visit to Philadelphia where much of this ancient city in an earthquake-prone area has either been destroyed or lies buried under the modern city. John wrote to the church here (Rev. 3:7-13), commending them for their patience endurance in spite of persecution. Our next stop is Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6). Here we see the remains of the magnificent temple of Artemis, the beautifully reconstructed gymnasium and public baths, and the largest known synagogue. Overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

June 16 Tue Ephesus - Smyrna - Izmir
Today we visit the most impressive biblical site of our trip: Ephesus. The former glory of this city can still today be easily appreciated from its wellpreserved streets, temples, fountains, public baths, terraced houses and theatres. Ephesus was also the site of the Artemis temple—one of seven wonders of the ancient world. There is the same theatre where some 24,000 citizens of Ephesus gathered shouting “Great is Artemis!” in a riot started in response to Paul’s ministry there. The apostle visited this city only briefly during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18-21) but returned during his third missionary journey for a much longer period of two years and three months (Acts 19:1-20:1). Timothy later served as pastor in this city during which time Paul wrote him two letters (1 & 2 Timothy). Some years later Ephesus served as the home base for the apostle John’s ministry from where he wrote a number of letters (1, 2, 3 John) and to which he sent the Book of Revelation. In addition to the ancient city, we visit the Ephesus Museum, which houses several impressive items from this site, make a quick stop at Isa Bey Mosque and visit the Basilica of St. John. We drive to Izmir and visit the Smyrna Agora. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

June 17 Wed Pergamum - Thyratira - Izmir
We travel north to Pergamum which is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Turkey. Its attractions are hard to surpass: a 10,000-seat theatre on the side of the acropolis which is the steepest in the ancient world; the magnificently restored temple of Trajan; a library of 200,000 volumes second in size only to that in Alexandria; the base of the Altar of Zeus; the temple of Dionysus; and the medical center of Asclepius with its own theatre, library, underground tunnel and other buildings. John warned the church here that they were living in a place of “Satan’s throne” (Rev. 2:12-17). We will stop briefly in the ancient city of Thyatira, where, due to the presence of the modern city of Akhisar, few archaeological remains have thus far been uncovered. We return to Izmir for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

June 18 Thu Departure
Transfer to the Izmir airport. End of services. (B)

• Adana-Northern Cyprus flight
• Northern Cyprus – Antalya flight
• 3 Nights at The Museum Hotel in Antakya
• 3 Nights at Noah’s Ark Deluxe Hotel in Northern Cyprus or similar
• 1 Night at Ramada Hotel and Holiday Inn in Antalya or similar
• 1 Night at Doga Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale
• 3 Nights at 4 star Kordon Cankaya Hotel in Izmir
• Daily breakfasts 1 Lunch at the hotel on June 8
• 11 Dinners
• All transportation by private vehicles
• All airport transfers
• All entrance fees to the sites and museums
• All guiding by professional licensed tour guides
• All service charges and taxes
• Special Lectures by Dr. Mark Wilson – Author of Biblical Turkey
• TUTKU gifts

• International flight to arrive Adana on June 7 and depart Izmir on June 18
• Lunches and drinks
• Tips to tour guides ($5 per person per day) and drivers ($2 per person per day)
• Travel and Health Insurance, any kind of Insurance, and expenses
• Drinks and meals which are not listed above
• Anything not mentioned in the itinerary