A Different Group Tour to a Very Old Civilization

Calling all clergy.  Many have been to Israel, but not many have been to Turkey.  Let’s check it out.

Turkey is the cradle of civilizations which holds the treasures of 13 successive civilizations, spanning more than 10,000 years.  It is a paradise of sea, sun, and nature with 7200 km of coastline.  Many water sports, spas, hot springs and thermal waters. 

• St. Paul, one of the early leaders of the Christian Church was born in Tarsus, ancient Cilcia.  He wrote his letter to the Ephesians in Ephesus
• The 7 Churches of the Apocalypse, mentioned in Revelations, are in Anatolia, Ephesus, Izmir, Pergamon, Thyatria, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea- all in Turkey
• St. John lived and died in Ephesus.
• The first 8 of the Council meetings were held in Turkey
• Believers were first called “Christian” in Antakya.
• Virgin Mary spent the last days of her life in Ephesus
• St. Nicholas was born in Patara
• Apostle St. Philip lived in Hierapolis and was martyred there

This is a fascinating country for many faiths.  Bring your congregation and have a private tour.  Or get a group of clergy together and have a private tour.  I have a local contact who knows all the sites.  Call me to present this to your group.

Your Journey Includes

* Roundtrip Airfare

* Deluxe Motorcoaches

* First Class Hotels

* Guided Sightseeings

* Daily Breakfast and Dinner

* Entrance Fees

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Depart from New York

Own transportation to New York JFK Airport. Flight to

Istanbul.

Day 2 – Arrive Istanbul Airport

Arrive Istanbul Airport. Our representative will meet you

after the customs and baggage claim. Transfer to the

hotel. Afternoon visit to the Topkapi Palace, the Imperial

Residential Palace of the Ottoman sultans between the

16th and 19th centuries and the oldest and largest of

the remaining palaces in the world. Its displays include

priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain

and costumes of the sultans. Dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 3 – Istanbul

Full day Istanbul tour; the Roman Hippodrome Square,

Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, St. Sophia

Church, built by Constantine the Great and

reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the

world’s greatest architectural marvels and a designated

World Heritage site. Continue to Grand Bazaar.Return

to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 4 – Istanbul – Troy – Alexander Troas (Acts 16:8-

11; 20:5, 6, II Tim. 4:13 II Cor. 2:12) – Assos

Drive to Çanakkale. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by car

ferry. Proceed to Troy to see the legendary city and the

replica of the Wooden Horse. Then drive to Alexandria

Troas founded by Alexander the Great. Paul visited here

at least twice. Then drive to Assos, this Hellenistic city

where Paul rejoined his companions. Overnight in

Assos. (B, D)

Day 5 – Pergamon (Rev. 1:11; 2:12) – Thyatira (Acts

16:14, Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24) – Smyrna (Rev. 1:11; 2:8)

Leave for Pergamum. Visit the Acropolis with the

steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of

Trajan. Then visit the Red Basilica, which was an

Egyptian Temple, later converted to a church in the 1st

century. Continue Thyatira and onto Izmir for dinner and

overnight. (B, D)

Day 6 – Sardis (Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4) – Philadelphia (Rev.

1:11; 3:7) – Pamukkale

Drive to Sardis, the capital of the ancient Lydia, where

first coin of the world is invented. See the ruins of the

early Church constructed next to the Temple of Diana.

Continue to Alasehir to see the 1st century Philadelphia

Church. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

Day 7 – Laodicea (Col 2:1; 4:13-16, Rev. 1:11; 3:14) -

Colossae(Col. 1:2) – Kusadasi

Morning tour of Pamukkale; noted ancient spa, where

pure white travertines form frozen waterfalls, Hierapolis,

Laodicea. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and

overnight. (B, D)

Day 8 – Ephesus (Acts 18:19-24; 19:1-35; 20:16-17;

21:29, 1 Cor. 15:32; 16:8, I Tim. 1:3 II Tim. 1:18; 4:12,

Rev. 1:11, 2:1) – Kusadasi

Visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus, the Basilica of

St. John and the House of Virgin Mary. Dinner at the

hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, D)

Day 9 – Miletus – Kusadasi

Visit the Miletus theater where Paul spoke to the locals.

Return to Kusadasi for leisure. (B, D)

Day 10 – Departure

Early transfer to the Izmir Airport for departure. Fly back

to New York JFK Airport via Istanbul. Arrive New York

same day afternoon. End of our services. (B)

Steps of Paul anThe RelatnTour

…I was caught up in spirit

on the Lord’s day and

heard behind me a voice

as loud as a trumpet,

‘Write on a scroll what

you see and send it to

the seven churches:

to Ephesus, Smyrna,

Pergamum, Thyatira,

Sardis, Philadelphia

and Laodicea.’

(Rv 1:10-11)

Departure Guarantee