Day 1 ~ Depart the USA
Today we will arrive in Istanbul. After airport formalities we will take our short domestic Antakya flight. Once in Antakya we will be transferred to our hotel for the night.
Antioch-on-the-Orontes, once called "the fair crown of the Orient", is just 12 miles from the Syrian border. Antioch was a city of great religious importance and home of several Roman temples and its suburbs. Overnight in Antakya.
Antioch played especially important role in Christian history; it was the base for Paul's missionary journeys, where Jesus' followers were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26) and where the Gospel of Matthew was probably written. Antioch hosted a number of church councils, developed its own characteristic school of biblical interpretation, and produced such influential Christian figures as the martyr-bishop, Ignatius of Antioch, the pillar-saint Simeon, and the "golden-mouthed" preacher John Chrysostom.
We will visit the Cave Church of St. Peter, where followers of Jesus were first called "Christians".
Then we will visit the Archaeological Museum, famous for its mythological themes beautifully displayed in natural light and its impressive mosaics.
Our final destination is Samandag, Seleucia ad Piera the ancient harbor of Antioch where Paul, Silas, Barnabas, John, and Mark set out on their ministries. Overnight in Antakya.
Today we depart for Konya through ancient Cilicia and the Cilician Gates. After visiting Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul, which was the most important commercial port in the province of Cilicia since 2300 BC and where Mark Antony met Cleopatra. The Apostle Paul seemed to be proud of his birthplace, as in Jerusalem, when he was being arrested, St. Paul told the tribune: "I am a Jew and a citizen of the well-known city of Tarsus in Cilicia."
We will visit an ancient spring in the center of Tarsus called St. Paul's Well for reportedly the saint often drank there; and we will also visit St. Paul's Church.
After driving through the Cilician Gates we will be in ancient Roman province of Galatia to visit Derbe and Lystra. According to Acts 14:6-22 and 2 Timothy 3:11, Paul and Barnabas fled to Derbe and Lystra on their first missionary journey when city officials of Iconium plotted to stone them.
Finally we head to Konya which Paul and Barnabas visited during their first missionary journey, according the Acts 14: 1-6. Overnight in Konya.
This morning we leave for ancient Yalvac, Antioch in Pisidia a major Roman colony that was visited by St. Paul on his First Missionary Journey. Pisidian Antioch marked an important turning point in Paul's ministry, as the city became the first to have a fully gentile Christian community.
According to Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas came to Pisidian Antioch early in their first missionary journey. Their message was received with great interest, and on the following sabbath "almost the whole city gathered" to listen to them. Here we will visit Septimus Severus's triumphal gate,
Augustus Temple, the Roman baths, theatre and St. Paul church. We continue to drive to Pamukkale around the beautiful lake of Egridir. Overnight in Pamukkale.
We will spend the whole day to explore Hierapolis, an important ancient center for pagan cults until it was transformed into a Christian center in the first century. According to the tradition, the Apostle Philip lived and was martyred here. This unique site, whose cliffs are covered with white mineral deposits, was a health spa in Roman times and its thermal baths are still in use today. The ruins of Hierapolis contain an intriguing theater, Temple of Apollo, and necropolis. Then we will visit Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches in Asia Minor mentioned in the Book of Revelation, Rev. 3: 14-22. Our final site today is Colossae which is well-known throughout Christian circles as the receiver of Paul's letter to the Colossians, Col 4:13. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Continuing west today, we will visit Philadelphia, the site of another of the Seven Churches, and the recipient of not only the letter from St. John, but also St. Ignatius and referred to as "New Jerusalem", Rev. 3: 7-13. Next we stop in Sardis, also one of the Seven Churches and the residence of King Croesus (of "rich as Croesus" fame). Sardis was an early convert to Christianity but apparently a little bit of a disappointment to St. John, who admonished them in the Book of Revelations, Rev. 3: 1-6. We will also visit Thyatira, recipient of the longest letter to the Churches by St. John and visited by St. Paul on numerous occasions. Thyatira was also known for its costly purple dye, highly prized by royalty. Then we will continue to Ephesus. Overnight in Ephesus.
This morning we will explore the fascinating Hellenistic and Roman city of Ephesus, once having the population of 250,000, home to another of the Seven Churches. This is the place where St. Paul condemned idolatry and set up a Christian community. St. John also lived here, as well as the Virgin Mary who spent the latter part of her life here. We will visit Ephesus museum with a large collection of the artifacts from the ancient site of Ephesus nearby. Then we will head to explore the spectacular ruins of Ephesus, such as magnificent Roman streets, Library, Agora, impressive theatre with 25,000 seats, Mother Mary Church, colorful mosaics and terrace houses.
We will also visit the Basilica of St. John with his tomb and the baptismal where new believers were immersed. From here we will be able to see the location of the Temple of Artemis down below, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Overnight in Ephesus.
Today we head to Izmir, ancient Smyrna, birthplace of the poet Homer and third largest city in Turkey. Izmir is also the home to one of the Seven Churches, Rev. 2: 8-1. Here we will visit Polycarp's church and the ancient agora.
We continue to drive further along the Aegean coast to explore Pergamum, another site of the Seven Churches, the most favored of all of them, the church of Pergamum was praised for its forbearance, Rev. 2: 12-17. Once a beautiful city, Pergamum had the most dramatic acropolis in Asia Minor, and the library second in size only after the one in Alexandria, Egypt. Its ancient medical center performed research that laid the foundation for modern Western medicine.
Here we will visit the fabled acropolis, pass through the Royal Gates, Temple of Zeus and the library, which once held 200,000 volumes. Overnight in Pergamum.
Today we will continue our journey from Pergamum to Assos, an important center for the study of philosophy and natural sciences, and from where St. Paul and Luke sailed to Lesbos during their third missionary journey.
We continue our sightseeing in Alexandria Troas, which was once a city with tall buildings and a major port on the Aegean from where Christianity spread to Europe. It was here that Paul had a vision during his second missionary journey and was called to Macedonia (Acts 16:8-13). Paul later spent a week in Troas preaching, also the episode of the raising of Eutychus occurred here. (Acts 20:6-12). Overnight in Canakkale.
We will cross the famous Dardanelles by ferry, traveling through Thrace (European Turkey) to the Greek city of Kavala, the country's prettiest mainland port with the most elegant harbor. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Luke the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis because it accepted Christianity. We will visit the Roman aqueduct and the Acropolis from where we will have a splendid view over the city and harbor down below. Overnight in Kavala.
We have an excursion to Philippi on our agenda today. It is said that St. Paul chose Philippi to deliver his first speech in Europe because it had been developed as Julia Augusta Philippensium, and was therefore a Roman town on Greek soil. Regardless, Philippi holds the distinction of being the first European city to accept Christianity. It was here that St. Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will visit the baptismal site where Lydia surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period which is thought to have served as a prison for Paul. We will also visit the Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre, and then continue to Thessaloniki. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
We will spend the day to explore the beautiful city of Thessaloniki and enjoy its white tower, acropolis, wide boulevards and many attractive sites. Here the New Testament books of I & II Thessalonians will come alive as we visit the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. We will visit St. Demetrius basilica, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Our first stop today will be in Veria, ancient Berea to visit the old synagogue where Paul spoke. Then we drive to Corinth, where St. Paul spent many months establishing new Christians in their faith. At its center there is ancient spring which gave Corinth the reputation for being a place of pure waters and healing baths. Then we will continue on to the bustling Greek capital of Athens. Overnight in Athens.
Today we will board a flight from Athens to the Greek island of Samos, where the mathematician Pythagoras was born. Then we will board a ferry for an excursion to Patmos, the island where St. John was exiled by the Emperor Domitian, and where he wrote the Book of Revelation. We will visit the Monastery of St. John, founded in the 11th century by the Blessed Christodoulos. We will return to Samos to board an evening flight to return to Athens. Overnight in Athens.
We will explore some of the intriguing sites in Athens today, which will include: the Acropolis, the Agora, and Mars Hill, where St. Paul met with the philosophers of the day. Afterwards we will visit the Athens Archaeological Museum, and there will be time for wandering in the streets of Athens and strolling through the flea market. Overnight in Athens.
Today you will be transferred to the airport to board a departing flight to the USA.
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