Day 1: Depart the U.S.A.
Day 2: Arrival Istanbul: Arrival in Istanbul. Time permitting, we will have an orientation tour of the city where East meets West! Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3: Tour of Istanbul: Spend an unforgettable day in Istanbul! First, we will visit St. Sophia—, the original structure was built by Constantine in 326 A.D. With its 184’ dome, mosaics and frescoes, it is considered an architectural wonder. Of it, Justinian stated, “Solomon, I have surpassed you.” Across the street we enter the Yerebatan Sarayi (Underground Cisterns) built during the time of Justinian I and probably by Christians when one considers the manner in which many of the temple columns and capitals are placed. From here we take a short walk along the Hippodrome built in the times of Byzantium for horse and chariot races. Today, on the site of the imperial box seats, is the William II Fountain, and monuments line the field where once as many as 100,000 sat or stood and cheered at athletic competitions. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4: Tour of Istanbul: Today, visit the Egyptian Spice market (stock up on bargain saffron, spices and Turkish Delight here) before enjoying a cruise on the Bosphorus – the body of water that separates European Istanbul from Asian Istanbul. Later, visit the Beyerbeyi Palace in all its sultanate splendour and take in the stunning views atop the city’s highest point – Buyuk Camlica We visit the very interesting Istanbul Archaelogical Museum.Among other we see Siloam Inscription – Stone inscription removed from Hezekiah’s tunnel in Jerusalem shortly after it was discovered in 1880 CE. This tunnel was dug ca. 710 BCE to connect Gihon spring with the pool of Siloam. Biblical references: 2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chron 32:30; John 9:7. Herod’s “Thanatos” temple inscription – Stone inscription from the temple in Jerusalem, forbidding Gentiles to enter under penalty of death. Biblical references: Acts 21:27-31; 24:6,12,13. Only two known copies exist; the other (a partial and less-well preserved one) is in the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem. Tile panels from the Ishtar gate, Babylon. Of course we cannot miss visiting the famous GRAND BAZAAR! Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 5: Fly to Izmir & Tour Pergamum: This morning, we take a short flight to Izmir. We continue to Pergamum. Once a busy trading center and famous as a “seller of purple,” the most favored of the Seven Churches, the church of Pergamum was praised for its forbearance (Rev. 2:12-17). It was here that the first Christians were executed by Rome. We’ll visit the fabled Acropolis, pass through the Royal Gates, view the foundations of the Temple of Zeus and visit the ruins of the library, which once held 200,000 volumes. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.
Day 6: Sardes, Thyatyra, Philadelphia, Izmir: This morning, we drive to Thyarita , another of the Seven Churches a city guide will take through the city; Lydia of Thyarita, whom Paul met outside the city of Phillipi (Act 16:14), was a seller of purple goods. Then, visit to another of the Seven Churches and the most picturesque as we visit Sardes. John told the Christians οf Sardis that the letter ίn Revelation was from “the One who holds the seven spirits οf God, the seven stars”. He admonished them to “wake υρ and ρυt some strength into what is left”. We will see the temple of Artemis with and early Byzantine Church. Next, we drive to Philadelphia which was the least distinguished of the cities of the Seven. Return to Izmir. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.
Day 7: Smyrna, Ephesus & Kusadasi: Tour Smyrna, another of the Seven Churches, today called Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey and a long-time center for Jews and Christians. In Paul’s day, Izmir was known as Smyrna and was another of the Seven Churches (Rev. 2:8-11). Here we’ll see Polycarp’s Church and the ancient agora. “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples..” (Act 19:01). Our tour takes us to visit Ancient Ephesus, the Greek colony founded by the Athenians. Here history truly comes to life; walking towards the ancient harbor down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots. You pass architectural masterpieces like the Magnesian Gate and the Library of Celsus before arriving to the Great Amphitheater where Paul spoke to the Ephesians. Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi.
Day 8: Hierapolis & Laodicea: Our day will begin with Laodicea, another of the Seven Churches that contains many acres of ruins to visit, including a stadium and remnants of a sophisticated water system. We stop at Hoirapolis, the city blessed by St Paul’s ministry impact from Ephesus (Acts 19:10) and came under the evangelistic preaching of Ephratas. Then continue to Collosae, known from the letters of St. Paul. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 9: Ancient Miletus: Today we will visit ancient Miletus, once a harbor city, today inland because of the silting process of the Meander River. Miletus was home to many ancient scientists and philosophers, among whom Thales was first to set the principles to understand the world. Apostle Paul visited the city only once (Acts 20:15 to 21:1, 2Timothy 4:20). It is the place where, toward the end of his third missionary journey in 58 A.D., he summoned Ephesian elders to warn them about threats to the church (Acts 20:17 – 35). Paul offers the elders who journeyed to Miletus a heartfelt exhortation and warns them about the coming apostasy and splits in the church. He exhorts them to be faithful shepherds serving the people who, through the sacrifice of Christ, God has called to be one of his spiritual children. And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You know how, from the first day I came to Asia, and all the time I was with you, I served the Lord with all humility and with many tears and temptations, which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; And how I did not keep back anything that was profitable, but preached to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house . . .Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers . . . For I know this: that after my departure grievous wolves (self-centered people pretending to be believers) will come in among you, not sparing the flock (those who are truly called of God);And from among your own selves men will rise up speaking perverse things (teachings that are contrary to the word of God) to draw away disciples . . . (Acts 20:18 – 20, 28 – 30,) After Paul’s words reach the ears of the elders, he sails away from Miletus to fulfill his destiny in Jerusalem. Free time this afternoon for some shopping at Kusadasi and/or relaxing in your beautiful hotel. Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi.
Day 10: Home