BIBLICAL SITES in TURKEY SEVEN CHURCHES

Testimonials

In the book of Revelation of the Bible are written messages to seven of the most prominent churches of the Roman Province of Asia,which are located in western Turkey.When we use the word “church” we mean a group of Christians,not a buýlding.

Therefore on a tour of the seven churches we are not looking for remnants of church structures.However,a visit to the impressive excavations of the sites of the ancient Roman cities where these seven churches existed can be quite fascinating,informative and moving.These sites show Marks of the passing empires and cultures of the Greeks,Roman,Byzantines,Selcuk Turks,Ottomans and the modern Turkish Republic.A visitor to these ancient places find remains of massive pagan temples,beautiful Muslim mosques,as well as many Christian church buildings,which were of course built much later in history.

The seven cities mentioned in Revelation form what the Rev. John Stott “an irregular circle”,and “are listed in the order in which a Messenger might visit them if commissioned to deliver the

letters”.Sailing from the island of Patmos,to which John had been banished,he would arrive at Ephesus.He would then travel north to Smyrna and Pergamum,southeast to Thyatira,Sardes and Philadelphia,and finish his journey at Laodicea.He would need only to keep to what Professor William Ramsey calls “the great circular road that bound together the most populous,wealthy and influential part of the Province,the west-central region.”

Though the book of Revelation was penned by the hand of the Apostle John,it is claimed that these letters emanate directly emanate from the lips of the ascended and glorified Jesus Christ.Stott notes that “in them,by praise and censure,warning and exhortation,He makes plain much of His will for His people.The seven churches of Asia,though historical,represent the local churches of all ages and of all lands”.The onslaught on the Church was physical through a persecuting emperor and his deputies,intellectual through false cults,and moral through sub-Christian ethicalstandards.As we look around the world today,the same pressures harassing different churches and the messages in these letters are also fort he Church in the world.Stott says “it’s a call to Christians to endure tribulation,to hold fast to the truth,to resist the deceptions of the devil and to obey the commanmends of God.” In each of the seven letters,which follow,the risen Christ lays emphasis,either in rebuke or incommendation,of one particular characteristic of an ideal church.Put together,these characteristic constitute the seven Marks of a true and living church.

• EPHESUS   •SMYRNA  •PERGAMUM  •THYATIRA  •SARDIS  •PHILADELPHIA  •LAODICEA

So as tou can see,when a visitor comes to these remarkable Roman ruins carrying his New Testament and reflects on what happened in the past and meditates on the universal lessons to be learned today,a trip to the Seven Churches of Revelation in modern Turkey can be an unforgettable experience.Turkey,with its thousands of ancient sites reflecting its centuries of history and culture spanning more than 5000 years combined with its modern beauty,sunny beaches,crystal-clear waters,exotic bazaars,world-renowded cuisine,and hospitable people,is a destination guaranteed to be a life-changing trip.

The Seven Ecumenical Councils were held in Turkey

OTHER BIBLICAL SITE

St. Paul`s Birthplace - Eastern Turkey - Hierapolis-Pamukkale - Troas - Cappadocia Miletus-Balat - Perga-Perge,Murtuna - Attalia-Antalya - Derbe - Assos-Behramkoy Colossae - Antioch on Orontes-Antakya - Antioch of Psida-Yalvac - St. Sophia Church   (Museum) - The House of the Virgin Mary - Pilgrimages - Discovery of The Home (Anna Catharina Emmerich) - Antioch

CAPPADOCIA CHURCHES: 

Tokali Kilise - Elmali Kilise - Karanlik Kilise - Sandal Kilise
Barbara Kilise - The Yilanli Kilise - El Nazar Kilise

Philadelphia

Pergamum(Red Court)

Celsus Library-Ephesus

Apple Church

Tour I
Itinerary for 5 Nights / 6 Days

Izmir-Pergamum-Thyatira-Pamukkale-Sardes-Philadelphia-Laodicea-Miletos-Kusadasi-Ephesus

 Tour II
Itinerary for 12 Nights / 13 Days

Istanbul-St.Sophia-Hippodrome-Blue Mosque-Topkapý Palace-St. Irene and St. Chora Museum-Cappadocia-Konya-Antalya-Demre-Hierapolis-Pamukkale-Laodicea-Patmos-Kusadasi-Ephesus-Izmir-Sardes-Philadelphia-Pergamum-Bursa-Nicea-Iznik-Istanbul

 Tour III
Itenerary for 13 Nights /14 Days

Istanbul-St.Sophia-Hippodrome-Blue Mosque-Topkapý Palace-St. Irene and St. Chora Museum-Bursa-Troy-Ayvalýk-Pergamum-Thyatira-Izmir-Sardes-Philadelphia-Ephesus-Kusadasi-Patmos (Greek Island)-Aphrodisias-Laodicea Pamukkale-Pisidian Antioch-Iconýum-Cappadocia-Tarsus-Antioch.

                                                                                           TOUR I                                                                           back to top 
 Seven Churches Of The Revelation

Itinerary for 5 Nights / 6 Days

Day 01: Izmir
Arrive at Izmir Airport .Meet and transfer to hotel.Visit the church of St. POLICARP which the oldest church in ancient Smyrna,it symbolized the community of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse.Then visit Alexander the Great’s “ Velvet Castle “ overlooking the bay of Izmir.

Day 04: Pamukkale-Laodicea-Miletos-Kusadasi
Morning visit to Eskihisar,the ancient Laodicea,then drive to Miletos,where St. Paul gave a speech to Christianity.Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 05: Kusadasi-Ephesus-Kusadasi
Full day visit to the unforgettable remains of Ephesus,the House of the Virgin Mary,the Archaelogical Museum and the Basilica of Saint John.

Day 06: Kusadasi-Izmir
Transfer to Izmir Airport.End of our services.

BIBLICAL REFERENCES

The Seven Churches mentioned by St. John in the Book of Revelations (The Apocalypse) are all found in Turkey  and each was a founding community of Christianity.

Miletos

Smyrna Revelation     2:8-11 Pergamum Revelation      2:12-17 Thyatira Revelation      2:18-29 Acts 16:14 Sardes Revelation      3:1-6 Philadelphia Revelation      3:7-13 Laodicea Revelation  3:14-22 Ephesus Revelation  1:11:2:1-7  Acts 18:19-28:19

Hierapolis

To Make reservation or have more details of this tour;
Please contact our Biblical sites tour representative in CA-U.S Ms. Eloise BATTLE

                                                                        TOUR II                                                                                 back to top
In the Footsteps of St. Paul, Seven Churches of the
Revelation and the Greek Island Patmos.

Itinerary for 12 Nights / 13 Days

Day 01: Istanbul
Arrive Istanbul.Meet and transfer to the hotel.Afternoon orientation tour in Istanbul,if times permits (according to the arrival time). Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 02: Istanbul
St.Sophia,Hippodrome,Blue Mosque,Topkapý Palace,St. Irene and St. Chora Museum.Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 03: Flight
Flight to Cappadocia-Kayseri Airport and drive to Hotel Gamirasu.Leisure Day.

Day 04: Cappadocia
Full day exploring Cappadocia.Visit Goreme Open Air Museum,Avanos,the pottery making town,the naturel Citadel of Uchisar and the monastic Zelve Valley.

Day 05: Cappadocia
Visit the Ihlara Valley including painted cave churches,Güzelyurt (Karballa),the birthplace of St. Gregory of Nazianzus and the underground city of Kaymaklý.Return to hotel for overnight.

Love Valley-Cappadocia

Day 06: Cappadocia-Konya-Antalya Early departure to Konya.Visit the Mevlana Museum and the 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery.After lunch,drive to Antalya. Day 07: Demre-Hierapolis-Pamukkale Early departure to Demre,one of the six great cities of the Lycian civilization which was first settled in the 5th century B.C.The rock tombs,theater and Church of St. Nicholas commemorate the life and work of this Fourth Century Bishop.Saint Nicholas provided the dowries for three poor girls who would not have been able to marry otherwise,the beginning of our tradition of Christmas giving.Continue to Hierapolis,where we will visit the Martyrium of St. Philip amidst the site’s extensive ruins.Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 08: Pamukkale-Hierapolis-Laodicea
Complete the tour of Hierapolis,see the wonderful formation of stalactites in Pamukkale (Cotton Castle),the Roman Bath which later became a church,then visit Laodicea,one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation,continue to Kusadasi for overnight.

Day 09: Patmos-Kusadasi
Today we’ll travel by private boat to the Greek Island of Patmos,location of the cave where John wrote the Book of Revelation,and also spend time at St. John’s Monastery.Return to Kusadasi for overnight.

Day 10: Ephesus-Izmir
Depart for Ephesus,cradle of the early Church.Visit the House of the Virgin Mary,ancient Ephesus,the Archaeological Museum,the Temple of Diana (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World),the grave and Basilica of St. John.Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

Day 13: Bursa-Nicea-Iznik-Istanbul
Drive to Iznik (ancient Nicaea) via the beautiful Iznik lake road.Two ecumenical councils were held here : the First Ecumenical Council of 325 and the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787.Visit the ruins of the St. Sophia Church where the Seventh Ecumenical Council was held.In the afternoon,drive to Istanbul,the only city in the world spanning two continents ; transfer to hotel.Evening at leisure.

To Make reservation or have more details of this tour;
Please contact our Biblical sites tour representative in CA-U.S Ms. Eloise BATTLE

                                                                                              Tour III                                                                                    back to top
Early Churches With St.Paul & St.John

Itenerary for 13 Nights /14 Days

Day 01: Istanbul
Arrýve Istanbul.Meet and transfer to the hotel.Afternoon orientation tour in Istanbul,if times permits (according to the arrival time).Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 02: Istanbul
St.Sophia,Hippodrome,Blue Mosque,Topkapý Palace,St. Irene and St. Chora Museum.Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 05: Pergamum-Thyatira-Izmir
Depart to Pergamum,visit to Asclepion,the ancient hospital,the Acropolis,the Church at the site of Serapium  (7C) and the Red Court dedicated to St. John.Then visit Akhisar,the site of ancient Thyatira (7C).Overnight in Izmir.

Day 06: Sardes-Philadelphia-Izmir
Visit Sardes,the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia,visit the Church built on the foundations  of the Temple of Artemis (7C).Contýnue to Alasehir,ancient Philadelphia (7C).Return to Izmir,visit St. Policarp Church (7C).Overnight in Izmir.

Day 07: Ephesus-Kusadasi
Drive to Ephesus where St. Paul stayed a while,visit ancient city,House of the Virgin Mary,the Basilica of St. John (7C),continue to Miletos where St. Paul gave a speech to spread Christianity.
Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 08: Kusadasi-Patmos (Greek Island)-Kusadasi
Daily tour to the Greek Island of Patmos by private boat.Visit the cave of Revelation and St. John’s Monastery. Return to Kusadasi for overnight.

Day 09: Aphrodisias-Laodicea Pamukkale Visit Aphrodisias,Laodicea (7C) and Hierapolis,overnight in Pamukkale. Day 10: Pisidian Antioch-Iconium-Cappadocia Visit Pisidian Antioch,Konya (Iconýum),the Mevlana Mosque and Mouseleum,proceed to Cappadocia for overnight. Day 11: Cappadocia Visit Goreme,Zelve Valley,Underground City.Overnight in Cappadocia.

Aphrodisias

Day 12: Cappadocia-Tarsus-Antioch
Depart to Tarsus,the birthplace of St. Paul,continue to Antakya (Biblical city of Antioch)where St. Paul and St. Barnabas stayed.Overnight in Antakya.

Day 13: Antioch-Fly Istanbul
Visit the Museum of Antioch with its famous mosaics and St. Peter’s Grotto,the Cave Church where early Christians met in secret.Drive to Adana airport for late afternoon flight to Istanbul.

Day 14: Istanbul
Transfer to Istanbul airport for departure.

To Make reservation or have more details of this tour;
Please contact our Biblical sites tour representative in CA-U.S Ms. Eloise BATTLE

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