TTOUR 1-a

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL

13 days

Istanbul, Adana, Antakya, Tarsus, Konya, Lystra, Yalvac, Antalya, Perga, Aspendos, Laodicea, Pamukkale, Miletus, Izmir-Smyrna, Ephesus, Alexander Troas, Assos, Pergamum, Izmir, Istanbul

Day 01: En route / Istanbul

Meet & greet at Istanbul International Airport, transfer to the hotel, free time for leisure, o/n.

Day 02 : Istanbul (B)

Full day city tour. Visiting; Byzantine Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Cistern Basilica, Grand Bazaar. Return to the hotel, free time for dinner.

Day 03 : Istanbul / Adana (B,D)

Check-out from the hotel, then visiting Hagia Sophia Museum; the Divine Wisdom, constructed as a royal cathedral in 537, served as a mosque after 1453 and a museum since 1935. Our next stop is Kariye Museum; 11th. century St. Saviour in Chora is the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul after St. Sophia. The walls are decorated with superb 14th. century frescoes and mosaics on a gold ground. Then transfer to the airport for our flight to Adana. Free time for leisure, dinner & o/n.

Day 04 : Adana / Antakya Adana (B,D)

Full day tour to Antakya, ancient Antioch-on-the-Orontes. It was the chief church of Gentile Christians where they first called "Christian". Many Jerusalem Christians fled here after the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 11:19).

APaul's first two journeys began and ended here. Our first stop will be St. Peter's Grotto and St. Peters Church; the oldest known in the area. Then visiting Mosaic Museum; which houses an amazing collection of Roman mosaics. Continue to Samandağ - Seleucia Pieria; it was the harbor for Antioch where the Orontes River met the Mediterranean Sea. Paul, Barnabas and John Mark sailed from here to Salamis (Cyprus) to initiate his first missionery journey (Acts 13:4-5). Here we will visit the remains of a dam and impressive Titus Tunnel-artificial water source constructed to protect the harbor from silting. Return to Adana, dinner & o/n.

Day 05 : Adana / Tarsus / Konya (B,D)

Leaving Adana for Konya, on the way we will visit Tarsus; Paul's birthplace (Acts 22:3), was a center of philosophy, had a privileged status with Rome. Barnabas came here for Saul, encouraging him to join in the ministry at Antioch (Acts 11:25). Visiting St. Paul's well, the gate of Anthony & Cleopatra and the Roman Street. Continue to Konya ancient Iconium, was the commercial center with a mixed Jewish and Gentile population. Paul and Barnabas spoke in the synagogues (Acts 13:31-14:6) until an attempt by the population to stone them. The events that took place in Iconium during Paul's visit is narrated in detail in the apocryphal "Acts of Paul and Thecla". Iconium is one of the earliest settlements of central Anatolia, the capital of Turkish Seljuk Kingdom in the medieval period and the site of the "Whirling Dervishes". Biblical reference to Iconium: Acts 13:51, 14:1-6, 16:2. After arrival to Konya, visiting Mevlana Museum; the headquarters of the denomination founded by Mevlana, the leader of "whirling dervishes". Dinner & o/n.

Day 06: Konya / Lystra / Yalvaç / Antalya (B,D)

Leaving Konya for Antalya. Our firt visit will be Lystra (Zoldera); Paul visited here several times. They thought Paul and Barnabas were Gods (Zeus and Hermes) after healing a cripple (Acts 14:12). They stoned Paul and left him for death. Paul later returned appointed elders (Acts 14:23), and was joined by Timothy (Acts 16:13). Then Yalvaç - Pisidian Antioch; this city marked the end of Paul's first journey (Acts 13:13-52) where he preached his first recorded sermon, "Men of Israel... God-fearers..." with limited results. They were forced to leave this Roman outpost, shaking the dust off their feet. Twice the size of Ephesus, it was likely visited on all three journeys. During the recent excavations the two main streets of the city, the temple dedicated to Augustus and the Cathedral of Paul that was constructed on the foundations of the synagogue is unearthed. Continue to Antalya, Turkey's principal holiday resort, is an attractive city with shady, palm-lined boulevards and a prize winning marina. Since its founding in the 2nd.C.BC by Attatos II, a king of Pergamon, who named the city Attaleia after himself. It was the chief port of Pamphylia, from which Paul and Barnabas sailed at the end of the first journey (Acts 14:26). Dinner & o/n in Antalya.

Day 07 : Antalya / Perga / Aspendos / Antalya (B,D)

Half day tour to Perga; one of the earliest settlements on the Mediterranean and the remains of the Roman city is well preserved and impressive. Paul and Barnabas went through Perga on their way to and from Antioch on their first missionery journey. Here Paul assumed the role of leader rather than Barnabas (Acts 13:13-14). Many of this city's buildings, and the Roman theatre of nearby Aspendos, give a glimpse of the grandeur Paul saw as he entered Perga. Then Aspendos; the Roman city with the best preserved remains of a theater. Return to Antalya, free time for leisure or exploring this charming city. Dinner and o/n in Antalya.

Day 08: Antalya / Laodicea / Pamukkale (B,D)

Drive to Pamukkale. Our first stop will be Laodicea; where the good quality of raven black wool was spun, was once a wealthy city, which declined the emperors' financial help after the earthquakes in the Ist.C.AD. This church was described as "lukewarm, naked, blind and abject poverty". It was a cultic center of Hierapolis and both cities are mentioned in Paul's letter (Col.2:1 & 4:15). Then continue to Pamukkale; a beautiful and spectacular natural site undoubtedly unique in the world. It's situated on a plateau with its pools and the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis-monuments on this site include the ancient thermal baths, a nympaeon, a grand theatre and a huge well preserved necropolis. Hierapolis was a favorite spa in the Roman world. Paul greeted this city in his letter to Colosstans (Col.4:13). Traditionally St. Philip is connected with the early church here and a martyrium dedicated to him is identified in this site. Dinner & o/n in Pamukkale.

Day 09: Pamukkale / Miletus / Izmir - Smyrna (B,D)

After breakfast depart to Izmir. On the way visiting Miletus; the major Ionian city is to the south of Ephesus. Miletus dominated the sea routes and had established more than 90 colonies all around the Mediterranean as early as the 7th.C.BC. This city was a wealthy, cultural and intellectual center of trade, science and philosophy and the site of Paul's famous farewell speech to Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38). Paul sailed from Miletus to Jerusalem for Pentecost. Continue to Izmir, ancient Smyrna founded by the Amazons first, later became the center of trade in antiquity, the city of Homer and Polycarp. This church was challenged, "Be faithful even to the point of death..." (Rev.2:8-I1). Dinner and o/n in Izmir.

Day 10: Izmir / Ephesus / Izmir (B,D)

Full day tour to Ephesus; one of the prime Biblical sites and dominant city of Antiquity, is one of the higlights of any visit to Turkey. It was the wealthiest and most populated city in the Asian province of the Roman Empire. References to Ephesus in the Bible outnumber any other site; Paul spent more than two years in his third journey (Acts 19), from here Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians. Orgiastic worship of Cybele, fertility goddess whom the Greeks equated with Artemis, was here. Paul's preaching against idols clashed with Demetrius the silver¬smith, resulting in a riot at the theater (Acts 19:24-41). John lived from 40 AD onwards in this city, the traditional "House of Mary and the Church of Mary" where the 3rd. Ecumenical Council met are among the many important sites of Christian history. The city is the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the House of Virgin Mary where she is believed to have spent the last days of her life, the Library of Celsus, the baths of Scholastica, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Emperor Trajan, the Greater Theatre where Paul once preached to a crowd of 24.000, St. John's Cathedral-a 6th.C. cathedral built on the burial site of St. John on a overlooking the site of the Temple of Artemis. We will also visit Ephesus Museum in Selçuk. Return to Izmir, dinner & o/n.

Day 11: Izmir / Alexander Troas / Assos (B,D)

After breakfast depart to Assos. Our first stop will be Alexander Troas; it was founded immediately after Alexander the Great and it was the most important port until the establishment of Constantinoble. Paul preached at Troas on his second journey (Acts 16:8-10) before receiving the vision of the Macedonian asking for help. This vision changed the destiny of Paul and Europa. Paul and Timothy were joined but Luke at Troas and stayed for a week (Acts 20:6-12). Paul raised Eutychus from the dead and continued to preach. He left books, parchments and a coat at Troas and asked Timothy to bring them with him to Rome (2 Tim. 4:13). Then Assos; with a spectacular overlooking the Aegean Sea and the Island of Lesbos. The well preserved remains of the city include the walls, the temple of Athena, the theatre and the agora. The Roman harbor, which is still used by the fishermen, is the sites to be visited. Paul walked from Troas to Assos, while the others joining him made the trip by sea (Acts 20:5-6,13). Aristotle taught here for 4 years. Paul sailed from Assos to Lesbos-Mitylene (Acts 20:14). Dinner & o/n in Assos.

Day 12 : Assos / Pergamum / Izmir (B,D)

Leaving Assos for Izmir. On the way visiting Pergamum; one of the most spectacular city of Asia Minor, it was the most favored of the Apocalypse churches, praised for its perseverance in hard times (it lived where "Satan has his throne" Rev.1:12-17). Reportedly the site of the largest library in the ancient world which contained 200.000 volumes, it was here that parchment, "charta pergamena" was invented. Along with the theatre, Temple of Trajan and the library, the well preserved medical center "Asclepion" and the "Red Basilica" originally built for the Egyptian Goddess Serapis, however it was used by Jewish and Christians, are the sites to be visited. Continue to Izmir, dinner & o/n.

Day 13: Izmir / Istanbul / North America (B)

Transfer to Izmir International Airport for your flight to your home town via Istanbul or from Izmir.