Türkiye: Exploring the Origins of Early Christianity and Seven Churches of Revelation

MAY 9 SUN FLY FROM DALLAS TO ISTANBUL

Depart from Dallas by Turkish Airlines directly to Istanbul.

MAY 10 MON ARRIVE ISTANBUL at 17:10

Your tour guide will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a “LETU – TUTKU” sign. Meet and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (D)

MAY 11 TUE ISTANBUL – POPULAR MONUMENTS

Full day Istanbul tour to popular sites; the Roman Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, Hagia Sophia Church, built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site, Topkapi Palace, 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. Then visit the Grand Bazaar. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

May 12 WED ISTANBUL – NICAEA - ISTANBUL

Drive to Iznik. Visit Nicaea the Underwater Basilica area, Hagia Sophia Church, city walls and gates. Return to Istanbul for overnight. (B,D)

MAY 13 THU ISTANBUL – FLY ANTALYA

This morning, we will fly to Antalya on the Mediterranean Coast. Drive to the archaeological & Biblical site of Perge and visit the site known for it’s stadium and great bath complex. After the lunch at St Paul Cultural Center, we will visit the award winner museum of Antalya. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)

MAY 14 FRI PISIDIAN ANTIOCH - COLOSSAE - PAMUKKALE

We will depart early for Yalvaç, the site of the Roman colony of Pisidian Antioch. Paul’s first recorded sermon in Acts 13 addressed the congregation of Jews and God-fearers in the synagogue. We will also visit the St. Paul Room in the Yalvaç Museum. Then, visit the site of Colossae in the foothills of Mount Honaz. Paul wrote the letters of Colossians and Philemon to Christians in that community. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale. (B,D)

MAY 15 SAT LAODICEA – HIERAPOLIS - PAMUKKALE

Drive to Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) for a brief visit. See the white terraces of Pamukkale made of calcium deposits by thousands of years. First visit Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Then, visit Hierapolis. Proceed to our Spa hotel in Pamukklae for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

MAY 16 SUN PHILADELPHIA – SARDIS – THYATIRA – SOMA

In the morning we will drive to Philadelphia, the sixth of the Seven Churches. John wrote to thechurch here (Rev. 3:7-13), commending them for their patience and 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 outside Palestine. We will stop briefly in theancientcity of Thyatira, where, due to the presence of the modern city of Akhisar, few archaeological remains have thus far been uncovered. John warned the church here about its toleration of a woman symbolically called Jezebel who was leading believers as tray, causing them “to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Rev. 2:18-29). If time permits we will visit the nearby museum. We drive to our hotel in Soma for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

MAY 17 MON PERGAMUM – SMYRNA (IZMIR)

We travel 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). Dinner and overnight Izmir.(B,D)

MAY 18 TUE SMYRNA – IZMIR

Begin the day by driving up to Mt. Pagus (now called Kadifekale or “Velvet Castle”) which is the acropolis of ancient Smyrna from where we have a great view of the modern city of Izmir and its harbor. Here we think about John’s word of commendation for the Christians in Smyrna who were persevering in the faith despite persecution (Rev. 2:8-11). Next, we visit the Smyrna Agora, the Graffiti section and see the new excavations. Then, we will walk at the local Kemeralti Bazaar. In the afternoon, we will visit the Hisaronu Mosque, and the St Policarp Church. Dinner and overnight Izmir. (B,D)

MAY 19 WED EPHESUS - KUSADASI

Today will likely be the high note of the tour for most people, as 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 well-preserved 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 will also visit the “slope houses” (the wealthiest homes in Ephesus that have been marvelously reconstructed), the Ephesus Museum, which houses several impressive items from this site, and the Basilica of St. John. We return to our hotel in Izmir. Dinner and overnight Kusadasi. (B,D)

MAY 20 THU MILETUS – DIDYMA - KUSADASI

A scenic drive brings us to Miletus which, due to its four harbors and strategic location on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, became one of the great cities of commerce in the ancient world. Of the surviving buildings, the finest is the 15,000-seat theatre originally built in the Hellenistic period and expanded in Roman times. Other buildings include the council chamber built during the reign of the infamous Antiochus IV (175-164 BC), the Sacred Road leading to the Apollo Temple in nearby Didyma, the gymnasium and the well-preserved Baths of Faustina dating from AD 43. Paul stopped in Miletus on the return leg of his third missionary journey where he summoned the elders from Ephesus to meet with him and hear his poignant farewell speech (Acts 20:17-35). Before departing Miletus, we will visit briefly its small but informative archaeological museum. Some 10 miles away, connected by the Sacred Road, was Didyma, not a city but religious site devoted to Apollo. The temple here built in his honor was most impressive, consisting of 122 columns six feet in diameter and reaching six stories high. Although only three full columns have survived, the remaining stunted columns demonstrate why this shrine was a notable rival to the famous temple of Apollo at Delphi with its renowned oracle. In the late afternoon, we drive back to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

MAY 21 FRI Transfer to the Izmir Airport for your flight to US. (B)

• International roundtrip Air Tickets between Dallas – Istanbul
• Istanbul – Antalya domestic flight
• 3 Nights at Sude Konak Hotel in Istanbul or similar
• 1 Night at Best Western Khan in Antalya or similar
• 2 Nights at Doga Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale or similar
• 1 Night at Ramada Hotel in Soma or similar
• 2 nights at Kordon Cankaya Hotel in Izmir or similar
• 2 Nights Korumar Hotel in Kusadasi or similar
• Daily breakfasts at the hotels
• 11 Dinners
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• All transfers and transportation by private AC Bus with driver
• English Speaking, Government Licensed Tour Guide throughout the tour
• All Entry Fees to the sites and museums
• Boat Tour on Bosphorus
• Tips to hotel staff throughout the tour
• Tips to tour guide ($50 pp) and driver ($20 pp) total for 11 days
• Service charges and local taxes

• Lunches and Drinks
• Personal Expenses, Laundry, Phone Calls
• Travel and Health Insurance