Day-1ISTANBUL Arrival Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Day free at leisure considering the busy program for following days.

Day-2ISTANBUL-CANAKKALE (Assos) Departure for Canakkale by coach. The route brings us first to Tekirdag and next to Gallipoli to the battle fields of World War I. We take the ferry to Lapseki. Our next stop is the ancient site of Troy. After the visit, drive to Assos and check-in. Dinner and overnight.

Day-3CANAKKALE-IZMIR After a short drive following the breakfast we arrive the biblical area TROAS “. They went ahead and waited for us in Troas. On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.” (Acts 20.5 – 20.12). Visit of the ancient site ASSOS, which was the city with the most beautiful view in the ancient times. St. Paul took the boat from Assos to Mitylene. “We went on ahead to the ship and sailed off to Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. . When we met us in Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.” (Acts 20.13 – 20.14). Then we drive along the Gulf of Edremit. In the afternoon, arriving PERGAMON, visit of the citadel with the temple of Trajan, palaces, theatre and altar of Zeus. In the beginning times of Christians, the altar was called ‘thron of Satan’. The city on the citadel was therefore evacuated and the new one was founded down the valley and the ‘Red Basilica’, the ancient temple was also changed into a church. This church is one of the Seven Churches to which the message in the Revelation to St John (Revelation 2.12 – 17) is written. After the visit to the Asclepion, ancient hospital with library, theatre, thermal pools, etc. drive to Izmir, ancient Smyrna, where also one of the Seven Churches (Revelation 2.8 – 11) was located. Unfortunately this church doesn’t exist today. Dinner and spend the night there.

Day-4IZMIR-KUSADASI The highlight of the journey: Ephesus. Ephesus is one of the biggest and richest excavation areas of the world. The excavations continue for over 100 years. We’ll visit the ancient city with the agoras, library, temples, Odeon, bath, houses, and theatre. Also the House of Virgin Mary, Basilika of St.John, and the Seljuk Museum will be visited. By the expansion of Christianity Ephesus became very important: St Paul was here on his second missionary journey on the way back to Antioch. “. They arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He went into the synagogue and held discussions with Jews. The people asked him to stay longer, but he would not consent. Instead, he told them as he left, ‘If it is the will of God, I will come back to you.’ And so he sailed from Ephesus” (Acts 18.19 – 22). He was also in Ephesus in 53 A.D. on his third missionary journey. “While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul travel through the interior of the province and arrived in Ephesus. There he found some disciples. ” “. Paul went into the synagogue and for three month spoke boldly with the people, holding discussions with them and trying to convince them about the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 19.1 – 10). He had big trouble with the silversmiths who produced silver models of the temple of the goddess Artemis during his last visit to the city (Acts 19.21 – 40).The Church of Virgin Mary, the most important of the Christian edifices at Ephesus, is situated within a Roman building constructed during the first half of the 2nd century A.D. The third meeting of the Ecumenical Council was held in this church in 431, and after stormy discussions, the members agreed to accept as dogma the statement that Jesus, the son of Virgin Mary, was also born the Son of God. That is why the first church dedicated to her erected in Ephesus and the above-mentioned council reached its decision in the same church. It is well known that Jesus gave his mother into the care of St John at the crucifixion “. and from that hour the disciple took her to his own home” (Gospel according to St.John, Ch.19, v.25). When we consider that St John spent part of his life in Ephesus, it is quite conceivable that St Mary also lived in the city, and on her death was buried there. Indeed the Christian world favors this belief to which Pope Paul VI gave his blessing in a religious ceremony held in this church in 1967, attended by many thousands of visitors. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day-5KUSADASI- PAMUKKALE Not far from Kusadasi, in the Meandros-Valley, there was Milet, which was the second important harbor at the aegean shore. On his third missionary journey St Paul came from Troas to Miletus (Acts 20.15) and stayed for a short time there. “From Miletus, Paul sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him.” (Acts 20.17). When they arrived he held his farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus (Acts 20.18 – 38). Thereafter, he went to the ship which took him to Jerusalem. As the river Meandros filled the plain through the centuries, Milet is not a city at the shore any more. After the visit of the big theatre and the baths of Faustina, we drive to Afrodisias, the wonder in marble. With its school of sculpture there was the best stone-cut-works of ancient Anatolia. Here we see the stadion, the temple of Aphrodite, Odeon, theatre etc. In the 5th century the city was Christian and the main temple was changed to a church, as the city name was changed to ‘Stavropolis’. After the visit of the local museum, we leave for Pamukkale.On the way to Pamukkale there was the ancient city of Laodicea, where the ruins are spread in a big area, including stadium, gymnasium, later the Church (Revelation 3.14 – 22) are to be visited. Visit of the theraces at Pamukkale and ruins of Hierapolis. Dinner and overnight.

Day-6PAMUKKALE-KONYA Today we continue our trip to the inside of land to Konya. On the way we visit Antiochia in Pysidia, today Yalvac, with the rests of the church and the rock-temple from the non-Christian times. St.Paul was here on his first missionary journey twice (Acts 13.13 – 15 & 14.22 – 24) and at the first time visited the synagogue. Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak. (Acts 13.16 – 50). Also on his second missionary journey he came to Antiochia. In the afternoon we arrive Konya, ancient IKONIUM. In Ikonium he was twice, on his first missionary journey (Acts 13.51 – 14.5) and on the second missionary journey. Not far from Ikonium, there were LYSTRA (Acts 14.8 – 20) and DERBE (Acts 14.21) as important cities during the extension of Christianity. On his second missionary journey Paul traveled on to Derbe and Lystra, where a Christian named Timothy lived. His mother, who was also a Christian, was Jewish, but his father was a Greek. All the believers in Lystra and Ikonium speak well of Timothy. (Acts 16.1 – 5). In Konya we visit Seljuk works, like the museum of Mevlana, center of the whirling dervishes, the medresses of Karatay and Ince Minare as small local museums. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day-7KONYA-ANTAKYA (Antioch) After breakfast we leave for Antakya. All the missionary journeys Paulus started in Antioch. Also the first church of Christianity was founded in Antioch. Some of the believers who were scattered by the persecution which took place when Stephen was killed went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message to Jews only. But the other believers, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and proclaimed the message to Gentiles also, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s power was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he founded him, he took him to Antioch, and for a whole year the two met with the people of the church and taught a large group. It was in Antioch that the believers were first called Christians. ( Acts 11.19 – 11.30 ). Visit of the Petrus Church and the second biggest Roman mosaic museum of the world with the mosaics from old Daphne. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Day-8ANTAKYA-ISTANBUL After breakfast, we leave Antakya for Tarsus, the birthplace of Paulus: There was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. . “Get ready and go to Straight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul.” . So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord has sent me — Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At once something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he was able to see again. He stood up and was baptized; and after he had eaten, his strength came back. ( Acts 9.10 – 9.19 ). Late in the afternoon arrive to Adana AİRPORT. In the evening flight to Istanbul.Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day-9ISTANBUL After breakfast, we start with a sightseeing tour; first with the Byzantine Hippodrome, with its Egyptian Obelisk from the time of Thutmosis III., the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. The next visit will be the fabulous Blue Mosque; well-known with its dominant blue color on the tiles, wall paintings and the windows decorating its interior. After lunch; we’ll visit the imperial residence Topkapi Palace with the collections of Chinese and Japanese Porcellains, European crystal, silvery and treasury with priceless items all encrusted by precious stones. For shopping, you will have a free afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Day-10ISTANBUL On our last day, we’ll have a Bosphorus Cruise on a private boat along the European and Asian coasts, admiring the unique wooden old mansions on the shore. Thereafter, the visit of St.Sophia will take you 15 centuries back to history again. The name of the building meaning “Divine Wisdom”, was first given to a wooden basilica which later burned down. The second St. Sophia, built almost at the same place like the third one, couldn’t escape its inevitable destiny as the first: the people, starting the famous Nika rebellion in the hippodrome, put the fire to the cathedral. Emporer Justinian ordered the construction of the third St. Sophia in the year 532 A.D., which during the Ottoman Period (1453 – 1923) was used as a mosque. Today, its a museum. After lunch possibility for shopping in Grand Bazaar and overnight in Istanbul. OR depending on your flight schedule; Transfer to the airport.

Or you may have extra days accommodation anywhere in Turkey or continue to your journey in YEREVAN.

NOTE: Other Christianity tours, Seven Churches and On the steps of St.Paul samples are available upon your request.