Seven Churches of Revelation

SEVEN CHURCHES OF THE REVELATION & THE GREEK ISLAND PATMOS


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

    Day 02 | Istanbul
    Today you will discover the heritage of Istanbul with a Full-Day tour. Visit the St Chora Church, Hippodrome Square, St. Sophia Museum, and the important Istanbul Archaeological Museum containing the Gezer Calender, the Titus Inscriptions, City Walls from Babylon, and other important items. Overnight at the hotel.

    Day 03 | Istanbul – Bursa
    Drive to Iznik (Nicea), the site of the First and Seventh Ecumenical Councils. Drive to Bursa, visit the Green Mosque and the Green Mausoleum. Overnight in Bursa.

    Day 04 | Bursa - Troy - Ayvalik
    Continue to Canakkale; visit Gallipoli, Troy, and Alexandra Troas where Paul raised the boy, Eutychus. Overnight in Ayvalik.

    Day 05 | Pergamon - Thyatira – Izmir
    Depart to Pergamon one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Visit the Asclepion, the ancient hospital, the Acropolis, the Church at the site of ancient Serapium and the Red Court dedicated to St. John. Then visit Akhisar, the site of ancient Thyatira. Overnight in Izmir.

    Day 06 | Sardis - Philadelphia – Izmir
    Visit Sardis, the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia, visit the Church built on the foundations of the Temple of Artemis. Continue to Alasehir, ancient Philadelphia. Return to Izmir, visit St. Policarp Church. Overnight in Izmir.

    Day 07 | Ephesus – Kusadasi
    Drive to Ephesus where St. Paul stayed a while, visit the ancient city, House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John, and 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
    You will drive to Collossae (Paul’s letters to the Colossians and Philemon) on the foothills of Mount Honaz. You will continue to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, and Hierapolis where you will visit the monuments, thermal baths and the theater with its well preserved stage and Temple of Apollo. Dinner and overnight will be in Pamukkale.

    Day 10 | Pisidian Antioch - Iconium - Cappadocia
    Visit Pisidian Antioch, and then to drive to Iconium where Paul and Barnabas used the synagogue as their forum to address the local people. They angered the authorities there and were warned in time to escape being attacked. You will continue to Derbe where Paul visited twice. The Bible states that Paul and Barnabas spoke in Derbe and won many converts. You will then visit the area of ancient Lystra also twice visited by Paul. It was here Paul healed a lame man and later was raised after being battered with stones. Here also Paul met Timothy who later accompanied him on some of his travels. You will visit the Shrine of Mevlana before going to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia

    Day 11 | Cappadocia
    You will have a full day of sightseeing in Cappadocia. You will visit Goreme (open air museum, under UNESCO World Heritage protection) where you will see remains of several hundred early churches, with rooms hollowed out of the cones of volcanic ash. Some of them are decorated with scratched frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible. You will drive through the Zelve valley on your way to Kaymaklı, an underground city which was an early Christian center that extended downward in the earth for at least eight floors and housed several thousand people in the eighth and ninth centuries. You’ll continue to Uçhisar, another of these early Christian communities, before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

    Day 12 | Cappadocia - Tarsus – Antioch
    Depart to Tarsus, the city where the Apostle Paul was born. You will visit the Church of St. Paul as well as the recently excavated remains of the Roman Tarsus in the town center. You will take a short walk to the site known as the Well 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
    Antioch; the place where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. Here you will visit the Church of St. Peter, a grotto discovered by the Crusaders and reputed to be the cave church where early Christians met in secret. At the Mosaic Museum in Antioch you will see an unusually rich collection of mosaics from this area. Following your visit at the museum, you will go to the Seleucia Pieria, the ancient port town of Antioch from which Paul and Barnabas set out on their first journey and where Paul returned afterwards. Finally, we drive to Adana airport for late afternoon flight to Istanbul. Transfer to hotel, overnight in Istanbul.

    Day 14 | Istanbul – Departure
    Transfer to Istanbul airport for departure.

    SEVEN CHURCHES OF THE REVELATION and ISTANBUL 8 DAYS
    Day 01 | Arrive Istanbul Airport
    Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim. Transfer to the hotel. Afternoon Boat Tour along the Bosphorus visiting both Asian and European shores of Istanbul. Dinner and overnight.

    Day 02 | Istanbul
    Full day Istanbul tour; the Roman Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, St. Sophia Museum, built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site, Topkapi Palace, the Imperial Residential Palace of the Ottoman sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries and the oldest and largest of the remaining palaces in the world. Its displays include priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain and costumes of the sultans. Then visit the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

    Day 03 | Istanbul - Troy-Alexander Troas (Acts 16:8-11; 20:5, 6, II Tim. 4:13 II Cor. 2:12) – Assos
    Drive to Çanakkale. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by car ferry. Proceed to Troy to see the legendary city and the replica of the Wooden Horse. Then drive to Alexandria Troas founded by Alexander the Great. Paul visited here at least twice. Then drive to Assos, this Hellenistic city where Paul rejoined his companions. Dinner and overnight in Assos.

    Day 04 | Pergamon (Rev. 1:11; 2:12) – Thyatira (Acts 16:14, Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24) – Smyrna (Rev. 1:11; 2:8)
    Leave for Pergamon. Visit the Acropolis with the steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of Trajan. Then visit the Red Basilica which was an Egyptian Temple, later converted to a church in the 1st century. It is also considered as one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

    Day 05 | Sardis (Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4) - Philadelphia (Rev. 1:11; 3:7) - Pamukkale
    Drive to Sardes capital of the ancient Lydia where first coin of the world is invented. See the ruins of the 1st century. Continue to Alasehir to see the 1st century Philadelphia Church which is another one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

    Day 06 | Laodicea (Col 2:1; 4:13-16, Rev. 1:11; 3:14) - Colossae (Col. 1:2) - Aphrodisias-Kusadasi
    Morning tour of Pamukkale, noted ancient spa, where pure white travertine’s forms frozen waterfalls. Drive to Aphoridisias , the city of the Goddess of Love, see the well preserved stadium, the Odeon, the theater and the agora. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

    Day 07 | EPHESUS (Acts 18:19-24; 19:1-35; 20:16-17; 21:29, 1 Cor. 15:32; 16:8, I Tim. 1:3 II Tim. 1:18; 4:12, Rev. 1:11, 2:1) – Kusadasi
    Visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the Basilica of St. John. The visit of the House of Virgin Mary is optional. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

    Day 08 | Departure Back
    Early transfer to the Izmir Airport for departure. End of our services.

    EARLY CHURCHES with PAUL & JOHN
    Day 01 | Istanbul Airport
    Your professional tour guide will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a DORAK TOUR” signboard. Your deluxe coach will be waiting for you outside to transfer to you to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

    Day 02 | Istanbul
    Transfer to Istanbul Airport for morning flight to Adana. Meet and transfer  to Antioch; the place where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. Here you will visit the Church of St. Peter, a grotto discovered by the Crusaders and reputed to be the cave church where early Christians met in secret. At the Mosaic Museum in Antioch you will see an unusually rich collection of mosaics from this area. Following your visit at the museum, you will go to the Seleucia Pieria, the ancient port town of Antioch from which Paul and Barnabas set out on their first journey and where Paul returned afterwards. Finally, you will check into the hotel in Antioch for dinner and overnight.

    Day 04 | Antioch – Tarsus – Cappadocia
    You will have an early departure from Antioch as you drive to Tarsus, the city where the Apostle Paul was born. You will visit the Church of St. Paul as well as the recently excavated remains of the Roman Tarsus in the town center. You will take a short walk to the site known as the Well of St. Paul. In the afternoon you will continue with a drive to Cappadocia, for dinner and overnight.

    Day 05 | Cappadocia
    You will have a full day of sightseeing in Cappadocia. You will visit Göreme (open air museum, under UNESCO World Heritage protection) where you will see remains of several hundred early churches, with rooms hollowed out of the cones of volcanic ash. Some of them are decorated with scratched frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible. You will drive through the Zelve valley on your way to Kaymaklı, an underground city which was an early Christian center that extended downward in the earth for at least eight floors and housed several thousand people in the eighth and ninth centuries. You’ll continue to Uçhisar, another of these early Christian communities, before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

    Day 06 | Cappadocia – Konya
    You will have an early departure to drive to Iconium where Paul and Barnabas used the synagogue as their forum to address the local people. They angered the authorities there and were warned in time to escape being attacked. You will continue to Derbe where Paul visited twice. The Bible states that Paul and Barnabas spoke in Derbe and won many converts. You will then visit the area of ancient Lystra also twice visited by Paul. It was here Paul healed a lame man and later was raised after being battered with stones. Here also Paul met Timothy who later accompanied him on some of his travels. You will visit the Shrine of Mevlana before going to the hotel in Konya (ancient Iconium) for dinner and overnight.

    Day 07 | Konya – Psidian Antioch – Antalya
    You will depart and drive to Yalvac, ancient Antioch of Pisidia. Paul visited this town on his first missionary journey and it is here that he addressed the congregation in the synagogue on the Sabbath with his first recorded sermon. You will visit the excavations here and the Yalvac Museum. Then continue to Antalya with a very scenic drive through the lakes and the rocky mountains. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel in Antalya.

    Day 08 | Antalya
    You will begin with a visit to Perge, an ancient city even when Paul visited there. He and Barnabas went through Perge on their way from and to Antioch on their first journey. You will visit the Perge Theater, the Agora Stadium, and the columned streets. You will also visit Aspendos, one of the best preserved theaters in the world. Afternoon visit to the Archaeological Museum and Old City. Dinner and overnight will be in the port city of Antalya

    Day 09 | Antalya – Colossae – Pamukkale
    You will drive to Collossae (Paul’s letters to the Colossians and Philemon) on the foothills of Mount Honaz. You will continue to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, and Hierapolis where you will visit the monuments, thermal baths and the theater with its well preserved stage and Temple of Apollo. Dinner and overnight will be in Pamukkale.

    Day 10 | Philadelphia – Sardis – Izmir
    You will travel to Philadelphia, now called Alasehir. We’ll see remains of a Byzantine basilica as well as some eleventh century frescoes. Philadelphia and Smyrna were the only two churches among the Seven about which nothing bad was said by John. From there we’ll travel to Sardis, one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches. You’ll see the remains of the Temple of Artemis as well as a small Byzantine church, and the largest synagogue discovered outside of Israel. Finally, you will proceed to Izmir (ancient Smyrna), one of the Seven Churches and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world. You’ll check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

    Day 11 | Ephesus – Izmir
    You will leave Izmir and drive to Ephesus, the first of the Seven Churches, for a visit. You will see the amazing ruins of this great city: the theater, the library, the Temple of Hadrian and the newly excavated Roman Terrace Houses. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

    Day 12 | Pergamum – Alexander Troas – Canakkale
    Today you will leave for Bergama which is the site of ancient Pergamos, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. You will visit the acropolis there and see the impressive theater, the Temple of Athena, and other ruins of former civilizations. You will continue to Odun Iskelesi to visit the site and the port of Alexandria-Troas where Paul raised the boy, Eutychus. Paul visited this area at least twice. You will then go to Canakkale for dinner and overnight.

    Day 13 | Canakkale – Ferry to Dardanelles – Istanbul
    Cross the Dardanelles Strait by car ferry. Drive to the hotel in Istanbul for check-in. tonight, we will have a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

    Day 14 | Departure
    We transfer you to the airport with the sweet memories from us. Hope you enjoy Holy trip with us! 

SEVEN CHURCHES OF THE REVELATION AND ISTANBUL 8 DAYS

  • Day 01 | Arrive Istanbul Airport
    Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim. Transfer to the hotel. Afternoon Boat Tour along the Bosphorus visiting both Asian and European shores of Istanbul. Dinner and overnight.

    Day 02 | Istanbul
    Full day Istanbul tour; the Roman Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, St. Sophia Museum, built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site, Topkapi Palace, the Imperial Residential Palace of the Ottoman sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries and the oldest and largest of the remaining palaces in the world. Its displays include priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain and costumes of the sultans. Then visit the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

    Day 03 | Istanbul - Troy-Alexander Troas (Acts 16:8-11; 20:5, 6, II Tim. 4:13 II Cor. 2:12) – Assos
    Drive to Çanakkale. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by car ferry. Proceed to Troy to see the legendary city and the replica of the Wooden Horse. Then drive to Alexandria Troas founded by Alexander the Great. Paul visited here at least twice. Then drive to Assos, this Hellenistic city where Paul rejoined his companions. Dinner and overnight in Assos.

    Day 04 | Pergamon (Rev. 1:11; 2:12) – Thyatira (Acts 16:14, Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24) – Smyrna (Rev. 1:11; 2:8)
    Leave for Pergamon. Visit the Acropolis with the steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of Trajan. Then visit the Red Basilica which was an Egyptian Temple, later converted to a church in the 1st century. It is also considered as one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

    Day 05 | Sardis (Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4) - Philadelphia (Rev. 1:11; 3:7) - Pamukkale
    Drive to Sardes capital of the ancient Lydia where first coin of the world is invented. See the ruins of the 1st century. Continue to Alasehir to see the 1st century Philadelphia Church which is another one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

    Day 06 | Laodicea (Col 2:1; 4:13-16, Rev. 1:11; 3:14) - Colossae (Col. 1:2) - Aphrodisias-Kusadasi
    Morning tour of Pamukkale, noted ancient spa, where pure white travertine’s forms frozen waterfalls. Drive to Aphoridisias , the city of the Goddess of Love, see the well preserved stadium, the Odeon, the theater and the agora. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

    Day 07 | EPHESUS (Acts 18:19-24; 19:1-35; 20:16-17; 21:29, 1 Cor. 15:32; 16:8, I Tim. 1:3 II Tim. 1:18; 4:12, Rev. 1:11, 2:1) – Kusadasi
    Visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the Basilica of St. John. The visit of the House of Virgin Mary is optional. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

    Day 08 | Departure Back
    Early transfer to the Izmir Airport for departure. End of our services.