16Jan
 

Turkey

Visit the Seven Churches of Asia Minor, which represent the seven original Christian communities outside the Holy Land, and retrace the steps of Paul’s journey. With some of the world’s most well- preserved antiquities, you’ll see how the early Christians lived. Tour sites may include:

Istanbul & Canakkale

  • Church of St. Saviour, one of the earliest and most important Christian churches
  • St. Sophia Church
  • The Blue Mosque
  • The Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years
  • The Grand Bazaar

Pergamum, Izmir & Laodecia

  • Follow Paul’s footsteps on his Second Missionary Journey from Alexandra Troas to Neapolis in Macedonia (Acts 16:9) to Assos where Paul rejoined his companions (Acts 20:13)
  • Pergamum’s majestic Acropolis with the Altar of Zeus (Throne of Satan), the Theater, Temples, Palaces and the Gymnasium

Ephesus

(Once the most complete Roman city outside of Rome)

  • Hierapolis and its Necropolis, Baths, Theater and St. Philippe Martyrium
  • The Basilica of St. John
  • The last house of the Virgin Mary
  • The site of the Temple of Diana
  • Miletus, where St. Paul said farewell to the Ephesian elders on his Third Missionary Journey

Cappadocia

(Urgup)

  • The underground cities once inhabited by early Christians avoiding persecution from the pagan Romans (Göreme, Cavusin, Avcilar, Urgup and the Valley of Zelve)
  • Writings of the early Christians on the walls of the underground cities
  • Underground City of Derinkuyu
  • Rock formations of the Cappadocia Region, erupted from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago (late Miocene to Pliocene epochs). Those near Göreme, a monastic center between A.D. 300-1200, eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. The volcanic deposits are soft rocks that the people of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out to form houses, churches and monasteries.

 

Official Tourism Website of Turkey