Your pilgrimage begins as you board your international flight for Istanbul.

Upon arrival, you will be met by our airport representative. Transfer to your hotel in Istanbul for dinner and overnight.

The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. You will visit the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior. Visit the underground Cisterns dating to Byzantine times. Walk through Hagia Sophia, which was the largest church in Christendom for 1000 years, built by Justinian (532 -537 A.D.). The church has 107 columns; fossil imbedded white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. This afternoon you will fly to Izmir. Dinner & Overnight in Izmir.

Pergamum, one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation (Rev. 2: 12). It displeased the Lord because it tolerated the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which Christ hated (Rev. 2:13 -17). The fabled Acropolis towers 1000 feet above the town and commands a spectacular panorama. As you pass through the Royal Gates, you will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture. You will see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Athena, and the ruins of the library, which once held 200,000 parchment volumes. You will see the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the Grand Theatre, the gymnasium, and the health center (Aesclepion). The third-largest city in modern Türkiye is Izmir, which has long been a center of Jewish and Christian communities. In Paul’s day, the town was known as Smyrna. It was also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 2: 8 -11). You will see the agora, the colonnaded commercial center where Roman statues can still be seen. Dinner and overnight stay in Izmir.

Travel to Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. You will be impressed by the massive scale of the Temple of Artemis, by the white marble Royal Road, by the gymnasium, and by the synagogue. The third-largest city in modern Turkey is Izmir, long a center of Jewish and Christian communities. In Paul’s day, the town was known as Smyrna. It was also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 2: 8 -11). You will see the Agora, the colonnaded commercial center where Roman statues can still be seen. Continue to Aphrodisias, built around the Temple of Aphrodite. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded as a city-state in the early 2nd century BC, reflects its cosmopolitan social structure, with inscriptions from Greek, Roman, Carian, Pagan, Jewish, and Christian cultures among its 2,000 surviving inscriptions. Dinner and overnight stay in Pamukkale.

Hierapolis is blessed by hot mineral springs and some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor. Paul mentions Hierapolis in his Letter to the Colossians in saluting Epaphras, a fellow laborer, for his love of the brethren there (Colossians 4: 13). The ruins cover more than a mile. You will see the impressive amphitheater with seats still in perfect condition. You will see the City Gates, column-lined streets, and arches that have stood the test of time and earthquakes. Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle”, named for the limestone-laden hot springs which cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next. The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches (Rev. 3: 14 -22), were chastised for being lukewarm, “You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3: 15), and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous scripture from Revelation (3: 20 -21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock“. Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the stadium and columned streets. Visit the excavations at Miletus, where Paul bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus at the end of his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20). Dinner and overnight stay in Kusadasi.

Journey to the island of Patmos (Weather permitting), where we will enjoy a short ride up to the village of Chora, where the monastery of St. John is located. Visit the courtyard, the church with its outstanding frescoes and small museum which houses ancient books and manuscripts, mosaics, icons, splendid medieval textiles and vestments, as well as jewelry. Return to your motorcoach and continue on to the nearby Grotto of the Apocalypse, where the apostle, St. John, wrote the Book of Revelation during his exile by the Roman State. Return to the port of Scala and enjoy some free time in this quaint and picturesque harbor before boarding the ship to sail back to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight stay in Kusadasi.

Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade-lined streets. Today, you will be impressed with the spectacular excavations of the major streets of ancient Ephesus. You will view the library and the huge agora. The Temple of Artemis was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, only a single column remains to mark the site. You will visit the Basilica of St. John, the traditional site of his grave. From the basilica, enjoy a commanding view of the area. You will visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city. You will have time to explore this powerful city on your own and to retrace some of Paul’s footsteps. Fly back to Istanbul for dinner and an overnight stay.

Board your return flight to the USA.