Turkey & Greece Pilgrimage Package

Representative waits to greet you as you land in Istanbul. After transferring to your hotel, welcome briefing and Dinner.

Our day begins at 08:00 in the morning with a guided tour exploring one the most famous churches of Byzantine Empire time which is the Chora Church with magnificent mosaics depicting the Biblical scenes in a chronological order. Then continue onto ancient city tour with highlights to include: the magnificent TOPKAPI Palace(main residences of Ottoman Sultans), then walk across the Byzantine Hippodrome that was the scene of chariot races. In the afternoon we visit Saint Sophia Basilica,historic seat of the Byzantine church, built in 537 AD and now a museum whose mosaics, stained glass windows anddecorated domes have been crafted to create an environmentof breathtaking beauty. A short walk through gardens takes us to the Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet 1 built in 1616 that is famous for unequalled ceramic tiles. Then transfer to Nicea(1st council sunahadose)later in the evening (about 20:00) back to Istanbul.Dinner and overnight.

Departure in the morning at 08:00 and arrival in Ankara at approx. 14:00 noon.City tour and transfer to hotel. Free time in the afternoon.Dinner, overnight.

Departure in the morning at 08:00 for a full day touring the "moon-like" topography and unique landscape of Cappadocia.Goreme with its Chapels carved by early Christians and decorated with frescoes dating from the 6th and 10th century is an unforgettable experience. Visit the underground city of Derinkuyu or Kaymakli where thousands of early Christians lived concealed from persecutors in eight story complexes of subterranean dwellings. Visit the pottery making village of Avanos and the Byzantine monastic complex of Zelvebefore returning to our hotel to enjoy the picturesque views of this ancient and historic land.Arrival in Kayseri at approx. 20:00.Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Departure at 08:00 in the morningto visit the birthplace of St. Paul, Tarsus where you may drink from his well. Drive through the beautiful Taurus Mountains to the Anatolian Plateau. Continue to Biblical Cappadocia, famous for unique landscapes, underground cities as well as towns carved from the region's soft volcanic rock. En route we visit to the 13th century Seljuk Caravan Inn of Agzikarahan. Continue to Ancient Antioch was the center of Hellenistic civilization in the region and home to a massive temple and oracle complex dedicated to Apollo. The temple functioned until the visiting Emperor Justinian threw out the last remaining priest and ordered the place burned to the ground. Christian roots go deep into Antioch's soil. It was to Antioch that many Jerusalem Christians. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians", and it was here that the first non-Jews were accepted into the early church. You will visit one of the oldest churches in Antioch, Church of St. Peter. Continue to Tarsus which was the birthplace of St. Paul (Acts 22:3) and he visited on his second and third missionary journeys. Reaching back to the 14th century B.C., Tarsus is a city with a resplendent history.Arrival in Adana at approx. 19:00.Overnight in Adana.

Departure at 08:00, enjoy a morning drive across the rolling steppe , en route we stop by 13 th century Selchuk Caravan Inn,arrive at Konya (Iconium of the Bible) to visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana ,(an unusual and ecstatic Muslim sect,) then continue to another Biblical town of Asia minor to see the Lystra nearby. Arrival in Konya at 18:00.Dinner and overnight in Konya.

Departure at 08:00 and we drive towards South then West approaching the Taurus mountains on the way we visit Pisidian Antioch where St. Paul passed in his first journey Departure to Laodicea to gain an understanding of the "neither hot nor cold" water, One of the seven churches of Asia Minor in the book of revelation. Next we continue to Pamukkale which means ‘cotton castle’. The white cliff is the formation of mineral springs. We also visit Greco -roman settlement Hierapolis which used to be one the most popular health-spa during the roman time. This was Philip the Evangelist's home. We tour the extensive ruins of the city then enjoy a leisurely bath in the warm mineral waters of your hotel's pool. Arrival in Pamukkale at 19:00.Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Departure at 08:00 we drive visit Philadelphia referred to as the New Jerusalem and then we continue to Sardis , one of the other Seven Church of Asia Minor where you can see a roman era Synagogue and a very well-preserved gymnasium . Then we will proceed to Izmir(Smyrna),the third largest city of Turkey Today we can have a mass- service in the Church of St. Polycarp. Arrival in Izmir at 16:00.Free time.Dinner at the hotel.Overnight.

Departure at 08:00, this morning’s first drive to Miletus where he called the elderly Ephesians to the theatre to give one of his most influential sermons .Next drive crossing fertile valleys to Ephesus, home of St. Paul between 54 and 57 AD, to explore an unforgettable expanse of Greco-Roman and Christian remains Tour the nearby Virgin Mary's cottage on a wooded hilltop. Finally we stop at the restoration of St. John's Basilica, where he was first buried. For evening we continue to Bergama.Arrival at approx. 18:00.Dinner and overnight.

Departure at 08:00 to Pergamum we visit the Acropolis a true gem on the top of the old city, the Altar of Zeus, the temple of Athena and continue to Troy. Troy, the wooden Trojan Horse from Homer’s well known war and the museum.Depart to Canakkale and continue our tour driving to the Greek borders and the city of Alexandroupolis.Arrival at approx. 17:00.Dinner and overnight.

Departure at 08:00 we drive to Philippi where St. Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe, sowing the seeds of Christianity. Here St. Paul baptized a "certain woman named Lydia" the first Christian convert in Europe. The Roman forum, completely excavated, is from after St. Paul's time. Among the ruins, located on the rocky ledge above the town's main road is the prison where St. Paul and Silas were thrown. Continue into the modern port city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis, where St. Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy, first set foot in Europe. Drive to AMPHIPOLIS. Visit the City Wall with Gate, 5th century B.C., Amphipolis lion and the Byzantine Basilica Mosaics. Continue to Thessaloniki. St. Paul preached in Thessalonica during the winters of 49-50 AD and wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. See the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire. Arrival at approx. 18:00.Dinner and overnight in Thessalonica.

Departure at 08:00 we drive to VERGINIA, the first capital of Macedonia: visit the most important Royal Graves ever discovered; the tomb of Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. Here we see the fabulous findings from the tomb such as the famous golderLarnix with the stat of Macedonia. Continue to BEREA where the Apostle arrived and went to the synagogue and Preached. We continue to the small town of Kalampaka so to visit the marvelous Meteora. A unique complex of 24 monasteries placed on huge rock formations which were for many centuries inaccessible. They are dated back in the 14th and 15th centuries and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Meteora is a huge cultural as well as religious legacy which impresses every visitor. Arrival at approx. 19:00.Dinner and overnight in Kalampaka.

Departure at 08:00 we drive to DELPHI via the National Highway passing near Thebea- Levadia and the picturesque village of Arachova, Visit the museum with its renowned bronze sculpture," The Charioteer" and other famous pieces. In the afternoon visit the Temple of Apollo, the Athenian Treasury and Castillian Spring. Continue southward to ATHENS, arrival at approx. 19:00.Dinner and overnight.

Departure at 08:00 for morning city sightseeing of ATHENS which will include a visit to the world renowned Acropolis, with the ruins of the Parthenon, Erechtheum and Propylea. Thereafter we will ascend Mars Hill, where Paul preached. Also, view the Agora (ancient market place, and former center of Athenian public life), the House of Parliament, Hadrian's Arch, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Palace, now called the Presidential palace. Proceed for a visit to Ancient CORINTH, seeing the Archaeological Museum the Bema, the Marketplace and Temples. Corinth was home to St. Paul for 18 months. From the Bema at Corinth, Paul spoke to the Corinthians about Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of first century shops, the agora where Paul's traial by Gallio took place, the Fountain of Peirence, Temple of Apollo. On the way to Athens, stop for a few minutes at the Corinth Canal, which separates Peloponnese from the Greek Mainland and connects the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Drive to ATHENS, arrival at approx. 19:00.Dinner and overnight.

Return flight after a memorable pilgrimage.