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| Day 1 |
ISTANBUL
Arrival to Istanbul
and transfer to your hotel. |
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| Day 2 |
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ISTANBUL TOUR
After breakfast, depart for a full day
tour of Istanbul. The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two
continents and is home to 450 mosques. First you will visit the
Hippodrome; the former center of sports and political activities and
then the famous Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and sparkling
interior. |
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Continue to the Topkapi Palace, once home to
royal Sultans. Inside, you'll see the fabled jewels of the Treasury,
delicate displays of Chinese porcelain in the Kitchen Quarters. Walk through
St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) which, for 1000 years, was the largest church in
Christendom. Built by Justinian (532-537 AD), the church has 107 columns,
fossil imbedded white marble floors and beautiful glass mosaics.
Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art.
Catch a whiff of cinnamon, cloves, thyme and other exotic spices as you
explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything form herbs to
gold. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. |
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| Day 3 |
THYATIRA - SARDIS - PHILADELPHIA - PAMUKKALE
After breakfast transfer to the
airport for the flight to Izmir. En route to Pamukkale you will
visit the sites of the churches; Thyatira, Sardis
and
Philadelphia.
Depart for the visit of Thyatira; was once a busy trading center and
famous in dyeing of purple clothes. Thyatira is one of the Seven
Churches mentioned in Revelations |
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tolerated the false prophetess,
Jezebel (Rev. 1: 11; 2: 18-29). Sardis,
another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Jesus told Sardis, "I
know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art
dead"(Rev. 3: 1-6). Coins were minted and the dyeing of wool
originated in Sardis. They will be impressed by the massive scale of the
Temple of Artemis, by the white marble Royal Road, by the gymnasium, and by
the synagogue. Then visit the site of Philadelphia also one of the Seven
Churches of Revelation Rev. 3: 7-13). Christ told those who overcame that He would
write upon them "the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God,
which is New Jerusalem." (Rev.3: 12). Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. |
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| Day 4 |
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HIERAPOLIS - LAODICEA - KUSADASI
After the breakfast at the hotel,
depart for the visit of Hierapolis; an ancient city of pagan cults,
Hierapolis or "holy city" was evangelized by Paul and Epaphras. The
Apostle Philip lived and is said to be buried here. Pamukkale, or
"cotton castle" is a spa and resort center with its hot springs and
cascading limestone pools. |
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Col. 4:12-13. Continue to Laodicea; The
Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches, (Rev. 3: 14-22) were
chastised for being lukewarm, "You are neither cold nor hot" (Rev. 3: 15),
and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs.
In the famous scripture from Revelation (3:
20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: "Behold, I stand at the door and
knock...". Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the
stadium and columned streets. Drive to Kusadasi, dinner and overnight in
Kusadasi. |
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| Day 5 |
EPHESUS - SMYRNA (IZMIR)
Full day tour of Ephesus; Ephesus is
one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1: 11). In ancient
days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide,
colonnade bordered streets. The St. Paul's first visit to Ephesus
was brief - during his second missionary tour (Acts 18:19-21). His
second visit lasted about three years - during his third |
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missionary tour (Acts 19:1 to 20:31). Luke's
account of the worship of Diana appears in Acts 19:34-35. The Great Theatre
(stadium) mentioned in Acts 19:29-31 could seat 25,000 people. Walk the
marble-paved street with grooves made by chariot wheels. See the Fountain of
Trajan, the Library of Celsus, and the Great Theatre. |
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Visit the Chapel of the Virgin Mary (Double
Church), where the Third Ancient Council convened. Then continue to The
House of Virgin Mary where she spent her lasy days. They will visit the
Basilica of St. John; early tradition associated John, the disciple of
Jesus, the author of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation with the
city of Ephesus. |
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As early as the 4th or 5th century a
Christian church was built over a simple grave, supposedly the grave of St.
John. In the 6th century Emperor Justinian had an impressive domed basilica
built to replace the earlier church. The church, known as the Church of St.
John the Theologian, is located on Ayasuluk Hill, which can be reached by a
street leading up from the center of the town called Selcuk. Dinner and
overnight in Izmir. |
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Day 6 |
THYATIRA -
PERGAMUM - CANAKKALE
Depart for the visit of Thyatira;
was once a busy trading center and famous in dyeing of purple
clothes. Thyatira is one of the Seven Churches mentioned in
Revelations tolerated the false prophetess, Jezebel (Rev. 1: 11; 2:
18-29). Continue to
Pergamum ; a most memorable experience will be Pergamum, with its
acropolis and Great Theatre, the steepest of |
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the ancient world. Revelation 2:12-16
describes the city as "where Satan's seat is", a reference to the altar of
Zeus, where we pause for reflection on the fulfillment of Scripture. Nearby, visit the Red Basilica; once a pagan
temple, it later converted into a Christian church. Finally, walk through
the Asclepion, the famous medical center of antiquity. Continue to Canakkale
dinner and overnight in Canakkale. |
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| Day 7 |
ALEXANDRIA TROAS - TURKISH / GREEK BORDER -
ALEXANDROUPOLIS
After breakfast continue your tour with the
visit of Alexandria Troas, here, on his second missionary journey, Paul had
a vision in which he was called to Macedonia (Acts 16: 8-13). Later, during
his third journey, Paul spent a week in Troas preaching. On one occasion he
also resurrected Eutychus who fell to his death from a window while sleeping
(Acts 20:6-12). Depart to Canakkale and continue our tour driving to the
Greek borders and the city of Alexandroupolis. Dinner and overnight in
Alexandroupolis. |
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| Day 8 |
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PHILIPPI
Visit Philippi where St. Paul
delivered his first sermon in Europe, sowing the seeds of
Christianity. Here St. Paul baptized a "certain woman named Lydia"
the first Christian convert in Europe. The Roman forum, completely
excavated, is from after St. Paul's time. Among the ruins, located
on the rocky ledge above the |
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town's main road is the prison where St.
Paul and Silas were thrown. Continue into the modern port city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis, where St. Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy,
first set foot in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Thessalonica. |
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| Day 9 |
THESSALONIKI - METEORA
Thessalonica city tour. St. Paul
preached in Thessalonica during the winters of 49-50 AD and wrote
two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. See the ramparts of the
city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting the Via Egnatia, once
a strategic artery of the Roman Empire. Depart for Meteora
Monasteries. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. |
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| Day 10 |
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METEORA - DELPHI
Visit Meteora Monasteries, among
striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks, which seem to be
suspended in mid-air, stand ageless monasteries, where you can see
exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Continue to Delphi, dinner and
overnight. |
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| Day 11 |
DELPHI - ATHENS
Visit Delphi, the center of the
Ancient world - the "omphalos" (navel) of the earth - whose prestige
extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. On the
slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and
majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Visit and
continue to Athens for dinner and overnight. |
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| Day 12 |
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ATHENS TOUR - CORINTH TOUR
We will visit the Acropolis to see the
ruins of the Parthenon, Erectheum and Propylae. We shall also ascend
Mars Hill, view the Agora (ancient market place where St. Paul spoke
to the ancient Athenians. We will also see the House of Parliament,
the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Presidential Palace, Hadrian's
Arch |
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and the Panathenaic Stadium. We
continue our tour to Ancient Corinth. Here under the shadow of the
towering Acropolis, St. Paul preached and lived for two years. The
vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD caused
him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters to
them. Visit the ruins of the |
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ancient city where St. Paul worked with
Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of first century shops, the agora
where St. Paul's trial by Gallio took place, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple
of Apollo and the Bema. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight. |
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| Day 13 |
DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport for your departure
flight. |
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NOTES
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You
may add one day trip to Patmos Island with private boat including the tour
of St. John Monastery, The Museum and The Cave of St. John to above
program. |
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