Anatolia has been the
center of Christianity
ever since St. Paul, St.
Peter, St. John. Many
other apostles came here
to preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. This
intensive religious
effort bore fruit in the
building of "Seven
Churches of Revelation"
in seven major cities
throughout western
Turkey.
DAY 1. Pick up from the
hotel, transfer to the
airport for the early
morning flight to Smyrna
(Izmir), the unofficial
capital of the Turkish
Aegean area which is
claimed to be the
birthplace of Homer.
Visiting St. Polycarp
Church and a short tour
in the city.
Drive to Thyateira
(Akhisar), Sardis
(Salihli), the ancient
Lydian capital and
Philadelphia (Alasehir),
the youngest of the
"Seven Churches of
Relevation". We will
explore the still
standing remains of an
ancient church and the
city walls.
Dinner and stay
overnight at Hierapolis
(Pamukkale).
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 2. Tour
of Hierapolis after
breakfast
Drive to
Laodicea (Denizli),
a crossroad of the
ancient world, home of
Philip the Evangelist, a
small tour of the city.
Continue to Ephesus
where we will see the
grandest and best
restored of all the
ruins in Turkey. This
prominent ancient
capital, founded in the
10th century BC by the
Ionian Greeks, is the
most important of the
"Seven Churches of Asia
Minor", where St. John
brought Mary in
fulfillment of his
pledge to Jesus to
protect her and where
she is believed to have
been taken into heaven.
The Last Abode Virgin
Mary and St. John
Basilica are the
spots.
Dinner and overnight in
Izmir
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 3. Departure
after breakfast to
Pergamum (Bergama),
the site of the ancient
cultural city of the
same name.
Pergamun with its
impressive ruins: An
acropolis with an Altar
of Zeus, the chuch of
Pergamum, palaces,
gymnasiums, temples, the
world s steepest
amphitheater, an
Aesculapium (ancient
medical center) and a
library that once held
200,000 volumes. Note
the familiar symbol of
medicine on the base of
the Serpent Altar;
Pergamon was the home of
early medical
theoretician Galen,
whose teachings held
sway for 1,500 years
Drive to Izmir
and transfer to the
airport ( Breakfast,Lunch
)
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.
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