Wednesday, Oct. 6 - Istanbul  

After breakfast visits in Istanbul including St. Sophia Church, the largest church of its era and the architectural glory of Byzantine architecture; the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets as well as its interior blue tiles; the

Byzantine Hippodrome, where the chariot races were held; the Topkapi Palace, imperial residence of the Sultans, and the Chora Church, one of the first churches of the Byzantine Empire, famous for its golden frescoes.

Thursday, Oct. 7 -  Gaziantep

Transfer to the airport for an early flight to Gaziantep.  Upon arrival, visits in Gaziantep include the Archaeology museum where the beautiful Roman mosaics discovered in the ancient city of Zeugma are on display. On your own, enjoy a lunch in Gaziantep which is a gastronomy center with famous local dishes and pistachio stuffed baklavas.  Dinner and overnight at hotel TUGCAN.

Friday, Oct. 8 - Gaziantep / Antakya

Visit St. John's grotto, then a coach ride to Antakya (Antioch), the city where the disciples were called "Christians" for the first time (Acts 11:26). Visit to St. Peter's Church - one of the first Catholic Churches in the world, the Antakya Museum of Mosaics (the most impressive example of this art in the Near East).  In the afternoon, a brief coach ride to Samandagi (Seleucia Pereira), the port from where Paul and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus on their first journey. (Acts 13:4).  Dinner and overnight at hotel BUYUK in Antakya.

Saturday, Oct. 9 - Antakya / Tarsus / Adana

Breakfast and early departure for Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul.  On arrival, visit to St. Paul's Well and the Cleopatra Gate.  Dinner and overnight at hotel SURMELI ADANA.

Monday, October 4, 2010 -  Depart New York JFK by Turkish Airlines for Istanbul on a non-stop flight, meals and overnight on board.

Tuesday, Oct. 5 - Arrive Istanbul, meet our representatives and transfer to the hotel ERESIN TAKSIM for dinner and overnight. (D)

Sunday, Oct. 10 - Adana / Cappadocia

Drive past the Cilician gates

to Cappadocia,

"the land of beautiful horses".  This is a volcanic plateau with large amounts of tuffa and basalt, creating an environment for troglodyte dwellings and underground cities.  Visit the Goreme valley with churches adorned with frescoes.  DInner and overnight at hotel PERISSIA in Cappadocia.

Monday, Oct. 1

1 - Cappadocia / Konya

Continue visits in Cappadocia in the morning;  after lunch on your own, depart for Konya (Iconium) where Paul and Barnabas were threatened of being stoned (Acts 15:5). Upon arrival, visits to St. Paul Church and the Mevlana Museum (Whirling Dervishes). Dinner and overnight in Konya at hotel DUNDAR.

Tuesday, Oct. 12

Konya / Yalvac / Laodicea / Pamukkale

Departure for Yalvac (Pisidian Antioch), a town where St. Paul stayed for quite a long time and used as a base while spreading Christianity in the region (Acts 13:14-50).  Drive to Pamukkale, en route visit the remains of Laodicea.  Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale at hotel LYCUS RIVER.

Wednesday, Oct. 13 - Hierapolis / Sardis / Philadelphia / Kusadasi

After breakfast visits in Pamukkale; first to Hierapolis, the center of Epaphra's work (Colossians 4:13) when Paul was writing to strengthen his preaching. Then a visit to the Cascades of Pamukkale.  Departure for

Sardis, one of the most picturesque sites of Seven Churches;  visits to the Artemis Temple, the Byzantine Church and the Acropolis.  Continue to Philadelphia where the church was not strong but the members were loyal. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight at hotel SEALIGHT.

Thursday, Oct. 14 - Kusadasi / Ephesus / House of Virgin Mary / Kusadasi

Depart for Ephesus, visits here include the Last Abode of Virgin Mary; the Basilica of St. John and the antique city of Ephesus,

where St. Paul stayed and taught for two years (Acts 19:10), and where he promised on his second journey, "I shall come back to you if it is God's will" (Acts 18:21).

Friday, Oct. 15 - Kusadasi / Thyatira / Pergamum / Canakkale / Assos

After breakfast depart for Thyatira; visits to the remnants of a Christian Church and the Temple, then proceed to Pergamum, the antique city; visit the Asklepium Sanctuary and the Acropolis including the Altar of Zeus, which is said to be "the place where Satan has his throne" (Revelation 2:13); the Trojan Temple; the world's steepest theater and the Red Basilica, which was originally a center of pagan worship later used as a church dedicated to St. John.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel EDEN GARDENS in Assos.

Saturday, Oct. 16 - Canakkale / Troy / Bursa

After breakfast depart for the antique city of Troy,

where the mythological Troyan war took place. The excavations are being carried on since 1872 and several layers of cities built on top of each other have been brought under daylight.  Later proceed to Bursa for dinner and overnight at hotel ALMIRA.

Sunday, Oct. 17 -  Bursa / Nicea / Istanbul

Visits in Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, include the Grand Mosque, Silk Bazaar, and the Green Mausoleum.  Continue to Iznik. 

Lunch on your own upon arrival. After lunch, on  to Nicaea, the most imp-ortant city of Bithynia at the time of Paul's visit, where the two fundamental church meetings - the First and Seventh Ecumenical Councils - were held.  Visits include the St. Sophia Church, the place of the latter meeting, and remains of the St. Trifon Church.  Dinner and overnight at hotel ERESIN TAKSIM.

Monday, Oct. 18 - Istanbul

Day at leisure.  You may wish to visit the famous bazaars.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Tuesday, Oct. 19 - Istanbul / New York

Departure transfer to the airport for the non-stop Turkish Airlines flight to New York JFK, arriving in the afternoon.  Welcome home !