Steps of Paul &
Churches of Revelation
   
18 Day Quality Tour Packages

Packaged Only For Groups of 15 or More

Day 1 DEPART USA FOR GREECE

Day 2 THESSALONIKA
We are met at the airport (Thessalonniki) and transferred to our Hotel (2 nights).

Day 3 VERIA (BEREA) AND THESSALONIKA
The New Testament books of I & II Thessalonians will come alive to us today. Visit 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 will the beautiful basilica of St. Demetrius, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert.  A stop will be made in Berea to view the Bema surrounded by newly placed mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the "more noble" church. We also visit King Phillips tomb in Vergina before returning to Thessalonika for free time.

Day 4 PHILIPPI
We drive 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. This afternoon we drive to the Turco-Greek border along the Marmara Sea en route to Istanbul, Turkey.

Day 5 ISTANBUL
A full day of sightseeing awaits us, including visits to the famous Blue Mosque, the ancient hippodrome (where chariot races took place during Roman times), the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia Church, Topkapi Palace and many other sights. Afterwards we'll journey through to Ankara on an overnight train with sleeping accommodations.

Day 6 ANKARA AND CAPPADOCIA
Ankara has seen many cultures in her time. She was once a Hittite town and later a Roman city. Today Ankara is the capital of Turkey. We'll get a feel of the history and culture of Turkey at the Museum of Anatolian Civilization and view the final resting place of the founder of the Turkish Republic at the Mausoleum of Araturk. Our travels continue on to Cappadocia where we'll spend the next two nights.

Day 7 CAPPADOCIA
A full day is planned in the "moonscaped" area of Cappadocia. We'll visit the underground city of Kaymakil which was built by early Christians seeking a safe hiding place. At the Goreme Open-Air Museum we'll see dozens of "cave churches" adorned with lovely frescoes from the 7th through 12th centuries. We'll also visit the Zelve Valley and the Uchisar Fortress

Day 8 KONYA
Konya is the Biblical Iconium visited by the Apostle Paul several times around 50 AD. It was once an important Roman city and later became the capital of the Selijuk Turkish Empire. Among the sights we'll visit are the Mevlana Museum and the sect of Whirling Dervishes. Our next stop is Yalvac, ancient Antioch in Pisidia, where Paul delivered his first recorded sermon.

Day 9 THE TURKISH RIVIERA - ANTALYA
This Mediterranean town is one of the country's top attractions. It's located on a beautiful crescent bay, with dramatic cliffs and the Torsos Mountains providing a breathtaking backdrop. Today is a free day for relaxing on the beach or to visit some of the Hittite, Greek and Roman ruins right in town.

Day 10 LAODICEA AND PAMUKKALE
On our way to Pamukkale, we'll stop in Laodicea and Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite. The temple of the goddess, with its theater and stadium, are excellently preserved. The seat of the Christian Church during Paul's time was located in Laodicea and is one of the Churches of the Revelation (which was chastised for being "lukewarm"). In Pamukkale, where we will spend the night, we'll visit the necropolis and the grave of the Apostle Philip.

Day 11 PHILADELPHIA, THYATIRA, PERGAMUM
Today we'll visit the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation, beginning with Philadelphia, once referred to as the "New Jerusalem". Thyatira, another of the famous churches, is now famous for its handmade rugs. In Pergamum, former rival of Ephesus in commerce, the first Christians were executed by the Romans. We'll see the great library, restored theater and the Aesculapium (a famous Roman medical center) before heading to Izmir (Smyrna).

Day 12 EPHESUS
Today we tour 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. We'll view the Library, Agora, Temple of Artemis and visit the Basilica of St. John. The basilica is believed to be the site of the grave of  John. We will also have plenty of time to view the wealth of artifacts awaiting us at the Museum of Ephesus.

Day 13 KUSADASI AND PATMOS
We are transferred to Kusadasi where we board our ship for a peaceful cruise to the island of Patmos. The Apostle John spent the last years of his life on the island and was given the Book of Revelation in mystical form. We'll visit the cave where John recorded the Book and the 11th century Monastery of St. John (which holds the original script of the gospel).

Day 14 RHODES
Our ship docks in Rhodes where we'll visit the old city, the Crusader's Castle and the Temple of Lindos. Rhodes is one of the larger of the Greek islands and is magnificently rich with ancient history and culture.

Day 15 CRETE, SANTORINI AND MYKONOS
We continue our cruise of the Greek Isles stopping first on the Island of Crete and spending time in its capital, Herkalion. Crete is the center of the Minoan civilization. We'll also visit the Palace of Knossos before setting sail for Santorini. This magical island is believed to be the site of the "Lost Continent of Atlantis". On the beautiful island of Mykonos, we'll visit the location of one of the most complete ancient cities ever excavated and experience a Turkish Bazaar shopping experience.

Day 16 PIREAUS AND CORINTH
Today we are transferred to Pireaus where our journey to Corinth begins. What an unforgettable thrill it will be to walk along the same stone streets as the Apostle Paul. We'll see the marketplace where Paul preached, the Archaeological Museum and numerous temples. Paul stayed in Corinth for a long time and founded the first church here which consisted entirely of gentiles.

Day 17 ATHENS
This morning we'll visit two famous sites where Paul preached; the Agora and Mars Hill. Afterwards we'll see notable archeological finds at the National Museum. No visit to Greece, however, is complete without a sojourn to four of Athens' most belovd treasures; the Olympic Stadium, Adrian's Arch, the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Tonight, return to some or all of these sites when they are illuminated against the indigo sky.

Day 18 DEPART ATHENS FOR HOME
A morning departure will bring us back to the USA by the afternoon.

This tour is available to groups of 15 or more. Call for special pricing from your city.

My Impressions of Turkey
by Angie Vick (pastors wife)