In the Steps of St. Paul

1st Day: We will welcome you at the Istanbul airport and will fly to Ankara together. You will arrive in Ankara, the capital and 2nd biggest city of modern Turkey. We will welcome you and you will rest in the hotel.

2nd Day: We will visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum which was awarded the title of the best European museum in 1997. You will see the richest and most unique collections of Hittite and Frig civilizations. We will drive to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.

3rd Day: We will see dreamlike Cappadocia, Goreme open air museum, monasteries and churches, founded by St Basil, with the most beautiful frescos inside. We will visit the unusual Gumusler Monastery where the only smiling fresco of the Virgin Mary is found. Also the controversial story of Apollonius of Tiynna will be mentioned. Cappadocia is the best place for hot-air balloon tours, which are optional. Overnight in Cappadocia.

4th Day: Famous underground cities where early Christians lived and hid. Later we will arrive in Tarsus. While walking through ancient Tarsus we will reach St. Paul’s Well and we will gather around the well. Overnight in Adana.

5th Day: This is the most important day of the tour since we will arrive at King Solomon’s Antakya passing Coa Plateau which is mentioned in the Old Testament. Antakya is the place where the word “Christian” was first mentioned. We will also visit St Peter’s Church which was the first established in the world. Finally, we will see the biggest Mosaic Museum in the world. Overnight in Adana.

6th Day: We will arrive in Konya which is one of most interesting cities of Turkey, passing the Taurus Mountains. On the way we will see the place where Frederic Barborossa was drowned. After lunch we will arrive in Lystra where we will read the Bible. In the afternoon we will visit Mevlana Museum. Mevlana was a very famous philosopher who lived in the 13th century A.D. Overnight in Konya.

7th Day: We will continue our journey onto the Taurus Mountains and we will reach Pisidian of Antioch, the city where St. Paul did his first preaching. We will walk on the same roads once he walked and we will read the Bible. In the afternoon we will reach Antalya following the same road St Paul took in Roman times. Overnight in Antalya.

8th Day: Our first trip is to Ancient city of Perge which St. Paul visited with St. Mark. We will visit the well preserved ruins of the Roman Era. Further, we will reach Aspendos where the most well preserved ancient theater is situated. Back to the hotel. Free time in Antalya and overnight.

9th Day: We will leave Antalya in the morning and will arrive at the famous Biblical city of Collesea , but today nearly nothing is visible. Later we will visit Laodiciea which is one of the 7 Churches. Laodiciea people were famous with their wealth and arrogance. In the afternoon you will walk on the calcium terraces of Pamukkale where Ephistetos’s city Hierapolis is located. Overnight in Pamukkale.

10th Day: We will drive to Alasehir where ancient Philadelphia one of the 7 Churches was located. There we will read the letter written to the Philadelphians. Next we will visit another Biblical city, Sardis (one of the 7 Churches) which was the capital of the Lydian Kingdom. This site,where coins were first produced and used is mentioned in the old and new testaments. Overnight will be in Izmir, which is the Ancient Smyrna, home town of St. Policarp.

11th Day: This day will be another highlight. After one hour driving we will be in Ephesus. We will have an extensive tour of this ancient site and sitting at the theater we will read the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 19. Also in the site we will see the first church ever dedicated to the Virgin Mary, where the 3rd ecumenical council met. Leaving Ephesus we will visit the house of Virgin Mary situated on a hill nearby. After lunch we will visit the tomb and Church of St. John, where we will read his Gospel. Overnight in Izmir.

12th Day: Our 7 Churches tour continues. After visiting Thyatira we will drive to Pergamum which was called by St. John “ The Devils Throne”. We will climb to the Acropolis and will visit the Red Court. Pergamum is also the place where the first paper (parchment) was made and the second big church of the world was erected. In the afternoon we will reach Assos where Aristotle thought about philosophy for 3 years. Overnight in Assos, facing the wonderful and unforgettable view of the island Lespos (Midilli Adasi).

13th Day: We will reach Alexander Truas where St. Paul staid for a while and preached. Following we will visit Troy reading passages from the Iliad of Homer. After wards we will drive to Bursa for overnight.

14th Day: In Bursa we will visit 2 famous mosques (Ulu and Green Mosques) and will drive to Iznik. Iznik is ancient Nicea. This is a city where the turning point of Christianity took place. The Nicean Creed was composed here and we will read the Credo in the original text. Finally we will travel to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

15th Day: We will have an extensive tour of Istanbul. Istanbul is the only city located in 2 continents and was the capital city of 3 empires. Our first visit will be to the legendary St. Sophia which was built 1.500 years ago as the first cathedral of the world. It was the biggest and last construction of The Roman Empire. Following that we will visit the famous Blue Mosque. After lunch you will have free time in one of the oldest shopping places in the world, the Grand Bazaar. In the afternoon we will visit the Chora Museum which is the one of the most beautiful samples of t Byzantine art. Overnight in Istanbul.

16th Day: In the morning we will have a Bosphorus cruise tour and you will see the beauty of Istanbul. Next we will visit the Topkapi Palace and famous Spice Bazaar. In the afternoon you will have free time in the evening we will come together for an unforgettable farewell dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.

17th Day: Transfer to the airport. Fly back home.