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Day 1: Departure from US
Today we embark on our Journey to the lands of ancient treasures and
Christian history with an overnight flight to Turkey. Prepare
yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the
flight…Tomorrow you will be walking where the apostles walked!
Day 2: Arrival Istanbul
We transfer to our hotel in Istanbul, Turkey for the next two
evenings. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey is a thriving seaport
and commerce center with a marvelous Bazaar and Spice Market
allowing for a perfect opportunity to pick up those souvenirs and
unique gift items.
Day 3: Bustling Istanbul
The tour today will be an unusual combination of Greek Orthodox,
Roman, Ottoman and modern day
Islam
including entrance into the famed
Blue Mosque
and
St. Sophia
Church. After lunch we visit the fascinating
Topkapi Palace housing the many priceless treasures and colorful
stories of Ottoman Sultans. We return to our hotel for dinner and
overnight.
Day 4: Archaeological Museum, Sea of Marmara
This morning our guide will walk us through the wonderful exhibits at the Archaeological Museum. Treasures include the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great, mosaic remnants depicting the times of Nebuchadnezzar, tablets of the Treaty of Kadesh known to be between Ramses II and the Hittites during the 13th century BC and many other wonderful items. Departing Istanbul, we travel west across "Trace," the
European portion of Turkey. The summer homes along the Sea of Marmara will provide the scenery as we travel. Views of the
bunkers on the hillside and the ocean going vessels give clear
understanding to the commentary of the British major losses and
World War I defeat in the Dardanelles Strait. Our bus boards a
large ferry for the scenic crossing of the Dardanelles to our lodging this evening in picturesque Çanakkale.
Day 5: Ancient Troy, Pergamum & Izmir
We pass by the area known as
Troas,
where Paul had a vision during his second missionary journey and was
called to Macedonia (Acts 16:8-13). Paul later spent a week in Troas
preaching here and Eutychus was resurrected (Acts 20:6-12). Ancient
Troy is well known for its 3rd and 4th Century BC excavations.
Don't forget to have your picture taken from the top of the Trojan
Horse. Our next visit of the day is 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. We continue south to 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. Our lodging this evening
will be in Izmir.
Day 6: Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia,
Pamukkale
A stop will be made in
Thyatira
to view the ancient roadway and period columns en-route to
Sardis.
Sardis
was berated by John for its facade of strength when in reality; it
was weak (Rev. 3:1-6). Here coins were minted and the dyeing of wood
originated. We'll visit the gymnasium and synagogue. Our next stop
is nearby
Philadelphia
which was referred to as the "New Jerusalem" (Rev. 3:7-13) in the
Book of Revelation. Not much is left of the city except for the
ancient wall and the remains of a Byzantine basilica in the modern
city of
Alasehir.
Our lodging this evening will be in a lovely spa hotel in
Pamukkale.
Day 7: Hierapolis, Laodicea &
Colossae
Hierapolis, meaning
"Sacred City," was an ancient center for pagan cults until it was
transformed into a Christian center in the first century. According
to tradition, the Apostle Philip lived and was martyred in
Hierapolis. It was likely the hot springs of Hierapolis in contrast
to the cold mountain springs near Colossae that combined to bring
application to the "luke warm" Laodiceans. (Rev 3:14-22) This
connection between the cities lies behind Paul’s reference to
Hierapolis and Laodicea in his epistle to the Colossians (Col
4:13).
Laodicea contains many
acres of ruins to visit including a stadium and remnants of a
sophisticated water system. Nearby
Colossae is well-known
throughout Christian circles as the receiver of Paul's letter to the
Colossians. Today, the town has fallen into obscurity and nothing
remains. We spend the remainder of the day traveling through the
Turkish countryside arriving in the port city of Kusadasi where we
spend two nights. The day will not be complete without a visit to a
local Turkish Rug cooperative.
Day 8: Ephesus
We travel to the nearby town of Selcuk for a visit to the
Basilica of St. John, housing an immersion baptismal and believed to
be resting place of John. From here we have an excellent overview
of the Ephesus harbor and the Temple of Artemis, completed in its
most famous phase around 550 BC and listed as one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World. Next, we travel a short distance down
the hill to visit the Mosque of Jesus (Jesus is a respected prophet
to Muslims). A wealth of artifacts awaits us at the nearby Museum of
Ephesus. We spend the remainder of our day in
Ephesus,
the city of the Bible and one of the largest restorations still in
progress with miles of ancient treasures. Ephesus was once a
thriving port town of 250,000 people. Today you can still see the
spectacular excavations of the major streets in this ancient city
where we view the Library, Agora, Temple of Artemis, theatre,
colorful mosaics, a panoramic view of the surrounding ancient port
area including a wealth of church history and cultural insight.
Day 9: Isle of Patmos
This afternoon we embark our cruise ship and sail for a visit to the
beautiful Isle of
Patmos, under statutory protection as a historic monument. Here
we have a optional tour to see the fortified monastery of St. John and the
cave claimed to be where John received the Revelation. Back on the
ship, enjoy the Captain's dinner before settling in to your cabin
for the night.
Day 10: Crete and Santorini
Crete is the largest and the most rugged of the Greek islands. Take
an optional tour to Heraklion and the fantastic ruins of the Palace
of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 and partially reconstructed, the
elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King
Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. This afternoon visit
the island of Santorini which is perhaps the most breathtaking of
all the Greek Islands. The town of Thira where white-washed houses, narrow
streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to steep
cliffs, is accessible by foot path, cable-car or mule. You may choose to take an
optional tour of sailing around an active volcano crater and
swimming in the water heated by hot springs or enjoy this lovely
island on foot. Again we return to the ship for dinner and evening
entertainment.
Day 11: Disembark Cruise – Athens
We disembark the cruise this morning and travel into Athens, the
foundation of democracy. We
visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum before viewing
Athens atop Mars Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the
Gentile nation. Additional sites include the Agora (ancient market
place and center of Athenian public life), the House of Parliament,
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential
Palace. A short walk from your hotel is the famous Plaka with a
multitude of shops and cafes.
Our lodging is in Athens for the next two evenings.
Day 12: Corinth & Mycenae
Departing Athens, we stop for a rest stop and photos at the Corinth Canal and then travel to the ancient city of Corinth, another treat for the New Testament scholar. Corinth is the city
that inspired many of Paul's most familiar letters. See the
Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples.
To enjoy a devotional in the midst of the ruins of the church of
Corinth and see the pillars, steps, and public worship place where
Paul preached will enhance your understanding and love of I & II
Corinthians. The ruins of this important cultural center are
fascinating as we walk along the stone path that the Apostle Paul
walked. The engineering skill and intellect of these people are
evident in the water systems that still flow from ancient to modern
day. Our guide will be sure to show you the room dedicated to the
medical care of that period. After the visit to ancient Corinth we
travel to Mycenae where the remains of the ancient city date back to
the Bronze Age to see the famous Lionesse Gate, the Tomb of
Agamennon in the shape of a Beehive, and many other sites before
continuing back to Athens.
Day 13: Meteora Monastery
From Athens, our tour travels northward past
Thermopylae
where we learn of the famous Spartan battle of 300. We continue
through the mountains to Meteroa. Here we see the world famous
Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of
gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history
goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the
cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden
shelters, later transformed into monasteries. Our lodging this
evening will be in Meteora.
Day 14: Vergina, Berea, Thessalonica
Traveling northward into Macedonia we visit King Phillip's (Alexander's father)
tomb in Vergina, one of the most outstanding finds in all of Greece.
A stop will be made in Berea to view the ancient synagogue where Paul spoke and the Bema surrounded by mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the "more noble" church. The New Testament books of I & II
Thessalonians will come alive to us today as we arrive in the
delightful harbor city of Thessalonica. En route to the hotel we
will view the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St.
George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into
a church and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via
Egnatia. We spend two nights here.
Day 15: Thessalonica/Philippi/Kavala
We begin the day by following the massive battlement Byzantine wall
to the citadel for a panoramic view of the city. Next, we will visit
Philippi
and
Kavala.
Kavala is Greece's prettiest mainland port with a most elegant
harbor. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas.
Luke, the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city
of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis because it was the first
European city to accept Christianity. Imagine walking on the same
sod as these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and
the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known
since the 5th century as Kavala. Continue on to Philippi where Paul
preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first
Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia
surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the
Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul.
See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the
Theatre. We return to Thessalonica and visit St. Demetrius Basilica,
dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred
Christian convert, before returning to the hotel for our final night.
Day 16: Rome, Italy
This morning we fly to Rome, our home for the next two nights. In the afternoon, we begin our walking tour at the ancient Roman Forum where our guide will divulge its secrets. We visit the Arch of Titus which commemorated the sack of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70. We step inside the Mamertine Prison, where tradition says the Apostle Paul was imprisoned. The Roman church would say that Peter was imprisoned here as well, but there is no imperial evidence that Peter was ever in Rome. Next, we visit the Coliseum, where thousands of people and animals perished during gladiatorial games. The Coliseum first opened in AD 80 and within 100 days of its opening, 5,000 wild beasts perished here. The slaughter of both humans and animals continued for three more
centuries. Historians believe the Coliseum could hold between 40,000 and 80,000 people depending on how close the seating was. The floor has recently had a plank placed over the middle making it accessible for people to walk over the labyrinth of brick cells, ramps, and elevators used to transport animals and gladiators into the arena. Hear the stories of the games that have fascinated people for years.
Day 17: Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter Basilica, Scala Santa, and Church of San Paulo Alla Regola
After breakfast we begin a full day of sightseeing. The first visit is to Vatican City to see the Basilica at St. Peter, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums with stunning works of art at every turn. After free time for lunch, we visit the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the traditional site of Paul’s tomb, and the Scala Santa, where Martin Luther made his stand against the practice of indulgences. This fascinating museum houses the Steps from Pilot’s Judgment Hall in Jerusalem brought to Rome by Helena, the mother of Constantine. The
practice today is to climb the steps on your knees, stopping to pray on each step. Our last stop today will be the Church of San Paolo Alla Regola, where it is said that Paul attended in the house excavated below the
church building. It has perfect acoustics as we sing a hymn and hear the Scriptures read of Paul’s writings. Additional sites include the Arches of Constantine and Titus, Circus Maximums, and the beautiful marble monument called the Wedding Cake.
Day 18: Homeward Bound
We transfer to the airport for our flight back to the USA.
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