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SEVEN CHURCHES OF THE REVELATION AND ISTANBUL
(7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS)
Turkey is very important land for Christians and a
place visitors who desire to trace their faith. The Seven Churches
mentioned by St.John in the Book of Revelations (The Apocalypse) are
all found in TURKEY and each was a founding community of Christianity.
DAY 1 ARRIVAL
IN ISTANBUL
Meet and assist at Istanbul airport .Transfer to the hotel. Dinner
and overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2 ISTANBUL
Full day city sightseeing tour of Istanbul ‡nclud‡ng Hippodrome where
the chariot races took place during the Roman Period, Blue Mosque
which is famous for its blue Iznik tiles, St. Sophia Museum and Topkapi
Palace, the great seraglio of the Ottoman Sultans where you can see
the imperial treasury, the unique collection of silverware and Chinese
porcelains offered to the Ottoman Sultans, drive to Kariye Museum,
church of the St. Savior in Chora (known for its well preserved mosaics
and frescoes).Then visit the Grand Bazaar where you will have the
opportunity to purchase souvenirs, jewelry, copperware and Turkish
carpets. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 3 ISTANBUL
Visit the Spice Bazaar before taking a cruise along the Bosphorus.
After disembarking at the village close to the entrance of the Black
Sea, Sariyer, drive over the suspension Bosphorus Bridge to the Asiatic
side of Istanbul called Camlica to enjoy a very impressive panoramic
view of the city. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 ISTANBUL / IZMIR
Transfer to the airport and fly to Izmir. Upon arrival in Izmir, continue
to PERGAMUM ( Revelation 2:12-17) to visit Acropolis, Temple of Athena,
library, Royal Palace, Temple of Trajan, the steepest theater of the
ancient world. Altar of Zeus. Then visit the Red Basilica, the Archeological
Museum and Asclepion (medical center of the ancient world).Continue
to THYATIRA (Revelation 2:18-29) which was a commercial center on
the highway between Troy and Sardes. Visit remains of a church, return
to Izmir, dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 IZMIR / PAMUKKALE
Early departure for city tour of Izmir; ancient SMYRNA (Revelation
2:8-11), visit ancient Agora and Alexander the GrateÌs Castle on Mount
Pagus overlooking Izmir. Depart from Izmir to EFFUSES, veritable cradle
of early Christianity (Revelation 1:1 ; 2:1-7), visit the shrine of
Virgin Mary where supposedly she spent her last days. Proceed to spectacular
ruins from the period of St. Paul; see Odeon, Fountains, Temples;
Library, Great theater, Double Church and stadium. Visit the Archeological
Museum, Mosque of Isabey, St. JohnÌs Basilica and his tomb, Temple
of Artemis (one of the seventh wonders of the ancient world). Continue
to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6 PAMUKKALE / IZMIR
Early morning start with the wonderful formations of stalactites and
watch the Cataracts falling into the Basin at the bottom of the Mountain.
Continue the tour with the ancient city of Hierapolis, the architectural
genius of the Plutonium Theater and the magnificently well preserved
Necropolis. There is year round swimming possibility in the natural
hot spring pools. Then see the ancient city of LAODICEA, home of Zenon
and city of rich people. Visit one of the seven churches of the Apocalypse
(Revelation 3:7 - 13 ) to visit the Acropolis and the remains of the
cathedral. Visit SARDES (Revelation 3:1-6 ),capital of the ancient
Lydia. See the Temple of Cybele and Diana which later became a church,
the Golden River (Pactalos) and the royal road. Then visit the reconstructed
synagogue and continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7 DEPARTURE
Breakfast and transfer to Izmir airport.
ON
THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL
(12 DAYS / 11 NIGHTS)
St.Paul was born in Tarsus , on Turkey’s southern shore.He toured
the Seven Churches and Roman
Audiences listened to the sermons of St.Paul.
DAY 01
ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL
Meet and assist at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Dinner
and overnight.
DAY 02 ISTANBUL
Breakfast and city sightseeing including St. Sophia, Hippodrome, Blue
Mosque, Chora Museum, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Dinner and
overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 03 ISTANBUL / ADANA
Breakfast and transfer
to Istanbul airport and fly to Adana. Transfer to the hotel in Adana
for dinner and overnight.
DAY 04 ADANA / ANTAKYA
Early breakfast
and drive to Antakya, Biblical "Antioch on the Orontes".
Antioch (Acts 6:5; 11:19-30; 13; 1-3; 15:1-2,22-35) is where the followers
of Jesus were first called Christians. Visit St. Peterís Grotto which
the first Christian Rock Church where early Christians of Antioch
used to meet in secret. Paul and Barnabas set out on their first journey
from Antioch. Proceed to Samandag, Biblical "Seleucia Pieria"
which was the seaport of Antioch in Roman times, from which Paul and
Barnabas set sail from Cyprus on their first missionary journey (Acts
13:4). Return to Antakya for dinner and overnight.
DAY 05 ANTAKYA / CAPPADOCIA
Leave Antakya and proceed to Tarsus (Acts 9:11,30; 11:25; 21:39; 22:3;
25:29) which was the home of young Paul who was born there about the
time Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Then continue to Cappadocia for
dinner and overnight.
DAY 06 CAPPADOCIA
Full day sightseeing of the villages of Avcilar, Ortahisar, Uchisar,
with their troglodyte dwellings, and the Goreme Valley. There are
several hundred churches in this area, some of which are decorated
with inscribed frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible or the Apocrypha.
Continue the tour with Zelve Valley and return to hotel for dinner
and overnight.
DAY 07 CAPPADOCIA / KONYA
/ YALVAC / EGIRDIR
Early breakfast and visit the Underground Cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu.
Continue to Konya, Biblical "Iconium" (Acts 13:51; 14:1-6,19:16:2)
Paul and Barnabas spoke to the people, but those against them were
very influential and got the support of the majority on their side.
Paul and Barnabas were warned in time enough to escape being stoned
there. Visit also the Mosque and the Mausoleum of the Great poet Mevlana,
the founder of the Whirling Dervishes order. Drive to Yalvac, Biblical
"Antioch of Pisidia" (Acts 13:14-52) mentioned in the New
Testament. Continue to Egirdir for dinner and overnight.
DAY 08 EGIRDIR / ANTALYA
Breakfast and drive to Antalya, Biblical "Attalia" (Act
14:25). Attalia is not named when Paul, Barnabas and Barnabasí cousin,
John Mark, went from Paphos to Perga on their first journey (Act 13:13),
but either Side or Attalia would have been possible ports. On their
way back from Iconium they came through Perga and sailed from Attalia
to Antioch. In the afternoon, departure for a city tour of Antalya
including the Gate of Hadrianus built in 130 AD, the ancient harbor
and the archeological museum where you can see a casket of bones reputed
to be those of St. Nicholas. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
DAY 09 ANTALYA (ASPENDOS
/ SIDE / PERGE)
Full day tour including Aspendos, Perge and Side. Aspendos was a river
port city in the ancient times and the best preserved theater of antiquity
dating from the 2nd century is dominating the site today. Continue
to Side, dating from the 7th century, and visit the theater, agora,
the great fountain and the Roman Baths which now house the museum.
Proceed to Manavgat Waterfalls to enjoy the natural park there. Then
drive to Perge, Biblical "Perga" (Acts 13:13-14; 14:25).
Perge is close to Cestrus River (Aksu) which was navigable in Paulís
time. Paul and Barnabas went through Perge on their way to and from
Antioch on their first journey (Acts 13:13; 14:25). Return to the
hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10 ANTALYA / FETHIYE
Departure for Demre Biblical "Myra" (Act 27:5-6). Myra was
visited by Paul, Luke and Aristarchus. It is where, as prisoners,
they changed boats on their way to Rome in 60 or 61 AD Visit the church
of St. Nicholas who was the bishop of Myra and the ruins of a Roman
theater in Myra. Proceed to Gelemis, Biblical "Patara" (Acts
2:1-2). As Paul and Luke returned from Miletus to Jerusalem at the
end of the third journey they stopped in Patara. Here they probably
changed from a coastwise ship to a larger one that could cope with
the open Mediterranean. Visit the ruins of Patara and continue to
Fethiye, ancient Telmessus, for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11 FETHIYE / MARMARIS
Drive to Marmaris and stop at Köyceyiz for one and a half-hour boat
trip through the narrow channels of Köyceyiz bay, to see the Lycian
rock tombs in the ancient city of Kaunos. Afterwards proceed to Marmaris
to relax and enjoy the sea and the sun. Dinner and overnight in Marmaris.
DAY 12 DEPARTURE
Breakfast and transfer to Dalaman airport.
THE JEWISH
HERITAGE
( 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS )
The history
of the Jews in Turkey goes back to the 4th century BC. Some ancient
synagogue ruins have been found in Sardes, nearby Izmir city, dating
from 220 BC Most of the Jews living in Turkey are Sepharadic Jews
whose forbears fled from he inquisition or were expelled from Spain
in 1492. These Jews were transported to the Ottoman Empire upon
a Royal Decree (ferman) of Sultan Beyazit II by ships. Today, 26.000
Jewish people live in Turkey. The vast majority live in Istanbul,
with a community of about 2500 in Izmir, and other small groups
located in Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Canakkale, Iskenderun, Kirklareli
etc.
DAY 1 ARRIVAL
IN ISTANBUL
Meet and assist at the airport and transfer to the hotel for dinner
and overnight.
DAY 2 ISTANBUL
Departure from the hotel to visit Galata, a Jewish neighborhood. Visit
the Galata Tower, built by the Genoese in 1303. Then visit the Ashkenazi
Synagogue built in 1900 and after, the Neve Shalom Synagogue which
is the biggest one in Istanbul built in 1951 for the Sepharadic Jews.
In the afternoon, visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque and St. Sophia.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 ISTANBUL
Departure for a visit to Balat district which has been the earliest
neighborhood of the Jews from 1492 and on. Star of David can still
be noticed on the facades of some of the buildings. Visit the 15th
century Ahrida Synagogue whose teva resembles a bow representing the
Ottoman ships sent by Sultan Beyazit II who offered safety for the
refugees of the Spanish Inquisition. Continue the tour with Yanbol
Synagogue which dates back to the Byzantine Period. In the afternoon,
visit Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in
Istanbul.
DAY 4 ISTANBUL
Today is free for the respect of Shabat Day.
DAY 5 ISTANBUL
/ IZMIR
Transfer to Istanbul airport and fly to Izmir. Jewish community dates
back more than 2000 years in Izmir. Visit Beth Israel Synagogue which
has a Victorian style architecture. Continue with Senora Synagogue
which is a 200 year old one built by the Ottoman diplomat Joseph Nasi
for the respect of his aunt Dona Grasia Mt. Pagus to see the Castle
of Alexander the Great and the Agora. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.
DAY 6 IZMIR
(PRIENE / MILETUS / EPHESUS)
Early morning departure for visiting two of the ancient Ionian cities,
Priene and Miletus. Visit their synagogues too and depart for Ephesus
to see the great theater, agora, baths, the library of Celsus and
the Temple of Artemis which is considered one of the Seven Wonders
of the ancient world. Return to the hotel in Izmir for dinner and
overnight.
DAY 7 IZMIR
(SARDES)
Departure for Sardes, the capital of Lidia. Visit the oldest synagogue
there dating from the 3rd century BC. It was found during the excavations
in 1962. This synagogue is an evidence of the Jewish community existence
in West Anatolia in the ancient times with its capacity of 1000 people.
Return to Izmir for leisure and shopping. Dinner and overnight in
Izmir.
DAY 8 DEPARTURE
Breakfast and transfer to Izmir airport.
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