Following the Steps of St John and St Paul
Duration: 16 Days
Program only valid for private groups of 20 or more people
Day 1 – Istanbul Arrival:
Upon arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, a representative of Aristotle Travel will meet and assist you with your transfer to the hotel for overnight. Following the Steps of St John and St Paul at Istanbul you will be free to explore the hidden treasures of this magnificent city. Rest of the day will be free to explore the hidden treasures of this magnificent city, the only one in the world located on two continents Europe and Asia!
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Day 2 – Full day tour:
Today you will enjoy a full day of sight-seeing in Istanbul starting with the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue Iznik tiles, the Roman Hippodrome and Topkapi Museum, the Imperial Residential Palace of the Ottoman sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries, one of the oldest and largest remaining palaces in the world. In the afternoon, take a boat trip through the Bosporus Strait where you can view the mosques, palaces, old traditional wooden villas along the Asian and European shorelines.
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Day 3 – Istanbul:
You will start the day by visiting Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine jewel built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, considered one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Following is a visit to the St. Chora Church, where you will see its beautiful mosaics. The tour concludes with a visit to the world famous Grand Covered Bazaar, housing thousands of vendors offering textiles, spices, carpets and countless other goods.
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Day 4 – Nicea - Bursa:
This morning, we visit ancient Nicea (Iznik) and see the remains of Constantine’s palace, now covered by water at the shore of Lake Iznik. It was here in this palace chapel that the First Ancient Church Council convened in A.D. 325 to produce the Nicene Creed. Enjoy Nicea’s St. Sophia Church, where the Seventh Church Council convened in 787. Later, transfer to the hotel in Bursa for dinner and overnight.
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Day 5 – Bursa – Pergamon - Izmir:
Depart today for Pergamon, with its acropolis and Great Theater, the steepest of the ancient world. Revelation 2:12-16 describes the city as “where Satan’s seat is,” a reference to the altar of Zeus, where we pause for reflection on the fulfillment of Scripture. We then continue to Izmir for overnight.
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Day 6 – Izmir - Sardis – Philadelphia - Izmir:
After Mass at the Church of St. Polycarp, the tour continues to Sardis (Rev. 3:1-5), one of the most picturesque sites of the Seven Churches of the Revelation and the capital of the ancient Lydian Kingdom during the 6th century B.C. Here you will also visit the Temple of Artemis, the Temple of Cybele, ancient Lydian houses, the restored gymnasium and the reconstructed Synagogue. Following is a journey to Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-12), where you’ll visit another of the Churches of the Revelation and your Bible will come alive as you read it on location. Upon return to Izmir you will have the opportunity to explore the city and its ancient bazaar.
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Day 7 - Ephesus – Kusadasi:
Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7), major port city on the Aegean, was the commercial, political, and religious center of all Asia Minor. The Apostle Paul's first visit to Ephesus was brief during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:19-21). His second visit lasted about three years during his third missionary journey (Acts 19:1 to 20:31). Luke’s account of the worship of Diana appears in Acts 19:34-35. The Great Theater (stadium) mentioned in Acts 19:29-31 could seat 25,000 people. We visit the Fountain of Trajan, the Library of Celsus and the House of Virgin Mary, where the Third Ancient Council convened. Enjoy Apostle John's Basilica (built on the site of the Apostle John’s tomb) and ponder the remains of the Temple of Diana.
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Day 8 - Patmos, Greece - Kusadasi, Turkey:
The tour continues today by private boat to the Greek Island of Patmos (Rev 1:9), where Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation in exile. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the monastery bearing his name, and you will also have a chance to explore the charming town before returning to Kusadasi for overnight.
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Day 9 – Laodicea - Pamukkale:
Next on the tour is a stop at Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22), one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Continue to Hierapolis (Pamukkale), enjoy the “Cotton Castles” of brilliant white calcium rock formations and hot-water travertine. The churches here in Hierapolis, Colossae, and Laodicea once flourished under the ministry of Epaphras (Colossians 4:12-13)
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Day 10 – Myra (Demre):
This portion of the itinerary features a visit to Myra (Demre), one of the six great cities of the Lycian civilization, which was settled in the 5th century B.C. Here you will visit the Church of St. Nicholas, the tombs and the theatre. Continue to Antalya for overnight.
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Day 11 – Konya, Cappadocia:
Following your stay in Antalya, you will depart today for Konya, visiting the Mevlana Museum and the 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery. Continue on to Cappadocia, where you will visit the famous underground cities which Christians built to escape persecution. See the cave churches carved in the porous rock, lavishly decorated with frescoes from the 9th to 11th centuries.
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Day 12 – Cappadocia:
Enjoy a full day tour of Cappadocia, visiting the Goreme Museum, the Zelve Valley, the Citadel of Uchisar, the pottery town of Avanos and dozens of cave churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible.
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Day 13 – Cappadocia:
Today you will visit the Ihlara Valley, containing elaborately painted cave churches, Güzelyurt (Karballa), the birthplace of St. Gregory of Nazianzus and the underground city of Kaymakli.
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Day 14 – Tarsus:
Today on the itinerary is a drive to Tarsus, the birthplace of Apostle Paul, where you will have the opportunity to drink from the well of the blessed water. Continue to Adana for overnight.
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Day 15 – Antioch:
Today you will visit Antioch, the third largest city of the Roman Empire, and the headquarters of St. Paul’s Missionary Journeys. Visit the cave church where St. Peter first celebrated Mass, then south to the Iron Gate, one of the entrances of Biblical Antioch. Next is a drive to Seleucia Peria, mentioned in the New Testament as the port from which St. Paul and St. Barnabas set sail for Anatolia on their first missionary journey. Here you will visit the Temple of Zeus for a bird’s eye view of the harbour, followed by a visit to the famous Titus water tunnel.
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Day 16 – Adana departure:
Transfer to Adana Airport for departure. We hope that your trip to some of the cities of the Churches found in Revelation has brought you a new understanding of the Bible and that you will join us soon in visiting more Biblical lands.
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