In The Footsteps of St Paul

Duration : 12 Nights

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In The Footsteps of St Paul

Day 1 (Welcome to Istanbul )

• Arrival at Istanbul International Airport, pickup and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 2 ( Full-day Tour of Byzantine and Ottoman Relics /Istanbul )

• Pickup time: 08:15 am at the hotel for the tour,

• Places to visit: Haghia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace.

• The tour is scheduled to end around 4:00 pm,

• Back to the hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3 ( Iznik and Bursa )

• Pickup time: 08:30 am from the hotel,

• Transportation: by car/bus

Sightseeing places;

1. Iznik, (Nicea) famous for its pottery, is the site where the First and Seventh Ecumenical Councils were held.
2. Green Mosque and the Green Mausoleum in Bursa.

• Overnight stay in Bursa.

Day 4 ( Troy and Alexandria Troas )

• Leaving Bursa early in the morning for Troy which is the home of the “Trojan Horse” and “Helen of Troy,

• Visiting Alexandra Troas where St.Paul visited at least twice and met Luke.

• Overnight stay in Canakkale.

Day 5 ( Pergamon and Thyatira)

• Depart from Bursa to Pergamon in Izmir Province, where you will visit

1. The Acropolis, including The Great Altar of Pergamon which was believed to be dedicated to Zeus and was referred to as “Satan’s Throne” by John of Patmos in his Book of Revelation (Revelation 2:13) and now is in Berlin Pergamon Museum. Here you also will see the well-reserved theater built into the steep hillside.
2. Santuary of Asclepion, the god of healing, was the ancient medical center for the Roman Empire.

• Next visit The Church of Thyatira, in Manisa Province, was mentioned as one of the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation. It was also criticized because of its tolerance of an immoral woman Jezebel,who called herself a prophetess (Rev. 2:18-29). The Turkish name of Thyatira is Akhisar (white castle) which now is a modern city known for its textile and dyeing trades.

• Overnight stay in Izmir.

Day 6 (Sardis and Philadelphia )

• Two stops of the day, both in Manisa Province, are;

1. Sardis, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, located on the banks of the Pactolus River in Manisa province. The Church of Sardis appeared to be alive but was spiritually lifeless. G.R. Beasley-Murray says: “The appearance of the Sardis church is that of a beautifully adorned corpse in a funeral parlour, and the Lord is not deceived” (Revelation, p. 95). The church needed to stir up the living Spirit of God in order to come to life.
2. Philadelphia, the city perhaps best known as the site of one of the seven churches of Asia, “The church of brotherly love that endures patiently” in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 3:7-13). Alaşehir, the Turkish name of Philadelphia, is famous for its many temples and worship centers.

• Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 7 ( Ephesus and Miletos )

A full-day tour includes visits to;

• Ephesus, the most influential capital city of Asia Minor in the Aegean Sea in Roman Period, is where you will explore one of the best preserved Great Theater, the Celsus Library, Terrace Houses as well as fountains and temples in Asia Minor.

• The House of Virgin Mary, accepted by the Vatican as a pilgrmage destination, is believed to be where she lived out her final days after the death of Christ.

• Basilica of St. John, a great church outside Ephesus city, is believed to be built over the burial site of St John the baptist.

• Miletos where St. Paul gave a speech to spread Christianity.

• Back to Kusadasi for overnight stay.

Day 8 ( Hierapolis and Laodicea )

After breakfast, today’s visits include;

1. The ancient City of Hierapolis as well as the world famous travertens of Pamukkale. Lunch will be taken on the way
2. Laodicea located in the Lycus River Valley of western Asia Minor, a primary trade route between the cultures of the West and East. “The “lukewarm” church with a faith that’s neither hot nor cold” (Rev. 3:14-22).

• Stay overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 9 ( Antioch of Pisidia and Iconium )

Depart from Kusadasi for visits at;

• Antioch in Pisidia , around 50 A.D., Paul visited Antioch on his first evangelistic journey (Acts 13:13-14) and his first recorded sermon was preached there (Acts 13:15-51). Continue to the city of Konya passing the mound of Lystra (Acts 14:8-19). The ancient Iconium also known as Konya, in Turkish, where St. Paul and St. Barnabas preached during the First Missionary Journey in about 47-48 AD (see Acts 14:1-5 and Acts 14:21), and Paul and Silas probably visited it again during the Second Missionary Journey in about 50 (see Acts 16:2). In Christian legend, it was also the birthplace of Saint Thecla.

• Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 10 ( Cappadocia )

• Full-day tour includes Goreme Open Air Museum, Zelve Valley and Kaymakli Underground City.

• Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 11 ( Tarsus and Antioch )

• Leaving Cappadocia for Tarsus the birthplace of St. Paul (Acts 9:11) and the scene of the first meeting between Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, where you will visit St. Paul’s Church and the well (now a museum) that is believed to have been within the grounds of his home.

• Antakya (Antioch on the Orontes), The city was once called “the fair crown of the Orient.” Antioch, one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire and Byzantium, played an especially important role in Christian history: it was the base for Paul’s missionary journeys, where Jesus’ followers were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26) and where the Gospel of Matthew was probably written. It was a key location of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, the rise of Islam, and the Crusades and was outsized only by Rome and Alexandria. It is also where St. Paul and St. Barnabas stayed.

• Overnight in Antakya.

Day 12 ( Antioch and fly back to Istanbul )

You will visit;

The ancient city Antioch was outsized only by Rome and Alexandria. The Apostle Peter made a mission to its many Jews, as did St. Paul and Barnabas, who spent a year here (Acts 11:26). The Antioch converts were the first to be called Christians. Visit the Museum of Antioch with its famous mosaics and St. Peter’s Grotto-Cave Church where early Christians met in secret.

• You will be transported to Adana airport for late afternoon flight to Istanbul.

• Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 13 (Farewell)

• The pickup and transfer to the airport is scheduled 3 hours before your international flight. Have a safe journey back home !

Price Chart

View Our Large Group Rates

( 4 pax and more )

Inclusions

• 12 nights hotel accommodation (4* & Boutique Hotels).
• Services of professionally licensed guides on local tours.
• 23 Meals (12 Breakfasts + 11 Lunch)
• All domestic flights mentioned in the itinerary.
• Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coaches on local tours and transfers.
• English speaking guided tours mentioned in the itinerary.
• Inbound and outbound airport transfers to/from your hotel.
• All taxes, entrance & museum fees, baggage handling.

Exclusions

• Optional: Add a daily trip to Patmos. .
• International airfares.
• VISA needed for Turkey
• Tips to guide, driver, hotel staff etc.
• Items of a personal nature
• Harem and Treasure room entrance fees in Topkapi Palace
• Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast)
• Travel Insurance and medical services