Early Churches With St. Paul & St. John 15 Days-14 Nights

After the breakfast city tour in Ankara, the capital of the modern Turkey. St. Paul was during one his mission journey in Ankara. The Museum for Anatolian Civilizations is one of the highlights of this trip. (Most of the guide books mention this museum often only as a Hittitian Museum, although archaeological founds from the Hittitian Period settles only a small part of the collection.). Continue drive by passing at the “Tuz Golu”, Salt Lake to Cappadocia. On the way the tour visits to the Underground City of “Kaymakli” or “Ozkonak”. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel in Cappadocia.

Breakfast at hotel and full day visits in Cappadocia. This bizarrely weathered landscape, running down to the valley of the Kizilirmak River, was formed by eruptions of Erciyes Mountain. However, other volcanoes in the region, such as Hasandag Mountain must have contributed to these huge tuff masses. The extent to which soft volcanic stones was combined with harder, rocky volcanic stone determined the steepest of the river valleys and made it possible for wind and water to wear the material down such a way that slender rock needless or cones, often with a stone covering the top, were left isolated in the landscape. These are the so-called “fairy chimneys”. These are often closed together in groups, or after severe erosion they are spread out more, or completely isolated on the slopes of the hills. Already two thousand years ago, the inhabitants’ caves systems dug and complete underground cities into soft stone. The early Christians chiseled here fantastic churches out. Full day excursion in the Göreme Valley between the peculiar and bizarre landscape. Caves churches with different paintings, residential zone as well as Zelve Valley and visit handmade art workshops (like Carpet and Pottery) complete the picture of Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel early departure over Nigde, Tarsus and Adana to Antakya, the antique Antioch at the Orontes River. Antioch was one of the seven world cities the antique and played with its many theological schools as an intellectual center an important role. St. Paul was on its mission trips several times here. Visit of the Cave Church of St. Peter, that counts as the first church of the world and in which the first time was used the concept “Christians”. Visit of the universally known Mosaics Museum of Antakya, in which among other things the mosaics of the Roman temple “Daphne” are issued. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and drive at the Mediterranean Sea along over Iskenderun, the antique Alexandrette and the Issos Valley, in which Alexander overcame the large King Darius and his soldiers, to Adana. Adana is center of the largest tree want annex zone of Turkey. Drive to the ruins of Armenian Settlements as well as Korykos after Tarsus, one of the important “run sort” of the story, brightness city of little Asia and place of birth of the St. Paul. On the way visit both so-called Clician Caves: Paradise and Hell. Continue drive over the river Göksu, in the emperor Friedrich Barbarossa I. while the 3rd Crusaders Cross drowned. Arrival in Tasucu. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive over Mut and Karaman to Konya, which is based on the intensive activity of Paul and Barnabas. Konya – in the antique Iconium named – became one of the largest communities, which became later the Patriarchal Center over 14 cities. The tour program is going on by visiting the Ruins of Lystra, the homeland of the Tomotheus. In many places of the environment, there are many churches in the area that were erected by the communities. Konya became under the Seljuks noticeable midpoint of an intellectual-religious development, whose influences we still see today: “Mevlana and its order of the dancing Dervishes”. Then visit to the Mevlana Museum that was original the cloister of the order. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and departure early morning over scenically most attractive areas. This stretch represents a part of the route that graduated St. Paul on its first trip. On its first mission trip to little Asia, Paul with Barnabas and Marcus in Antalya went to country. In the afternoon visit to the antic city of Perge, where was one of the first Christian communities of Asia Minor. After escape out of Antiochia, Paul with Barnabas came here and composed the word to Perge. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel in Antalya.

After breakfast at hotel drive over the western Taurus Mountains to direction north-west. On the way visit to the Laodicea that was through its intensive trade, especially through its Wool- and cloth industry one of the richest cities of Asia Minor. The remnants of a stadium, Baths and water directions remind of those times. Then visit to the Colossae that became a concept because of the “Colossae Letters”. Thereafter drive to Pamukkale (Hiearpolis). Visit to the Calcified Terraces. Then check-in at hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and visit in the morning the ruins of Hierapolis. Here died St. Phillip in the year 80, as a martyr and was buried. Long was Hierapolis bishop seat and Metropolis. Then drive through remote villages and untouched nature landscapes to Aphrodisias, one of the prettiest ruins in little Asia, above all with wonderful Roman statues. In the afternoon arrive at Selcuk and drive to the mountain, on which the dead House of the Holy Virgin Mary is located. Here the possibility exists to read a fair before the Dead House of Virgin Mary. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel in Kusadası.

After breakfast at hotel detailed visit in the morning the ruins of Ephesus. The city, that has been excavated or 100 years by the Austrian Archaeologist is first to ca. 20% excavated. The city has been established 1200 BC and reached during the Roman time with 200.000 inhabitant the highpoint. In this Capital City of the province Asia Minor was the second largest city after Alexandria. The St. Paul preached its community in the Theatre and until one took caught it on the citadel peak. Then drive to the Archaeological Museum of Selcuk, in which very interesting findings are to visit, among other things the famous statue of Artemis. In the afternoon visit to the Basilica of St. John, in which nominally a grave chapel of the St. John be supposed to be stood. This historically and cultural very interesting day ends with a photo stop at Temple of Artemis, one of the seven world wonders in the antique. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast drive through Izmir, birth city of Herodotus, to Sardes, the famous capital of Lydia, one of where lived the largest apocalypse communities. Probably through St. Paul, the Christianity found prematurely entrance here. After visiting of the ruins of Philadelphia, continue drive to the antique city Pergamon, the former capital of the province Asia. The tour visits to the Athena Temple, Altar of Zeus, Trajan Temple, the King Palaces and the steepest theatre of the world. After the visit of Asclepion, it goes to Ayvalık. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

Breakfast and early departure for Canakkale. Visit of the ruins of Homer’s Troj and passing the Dardanelles with the ferry to the European part of Turkey and drive via the highway to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast at hotel detailed visits in the old town, beginning with Hippodrome, which was erected in the year 203 by the Roman emperor Septimus Severus and became in Byzantine time the midpoint of the public life. Here not only chariot races, circus game took place and gladiator battles, but rather also festivals in honor of the emperor were celebrated. Then it goes into the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque) that confessed only mosque in the city with six minarets and because of the turquoise blue tiles in the internal. St. Sophia be dedicated by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. After the conquest Istanbul through the Turks in the year 1453, it became a mosque and has been since 1935 a museum. In the afternoon, shopping will be done in the largest Grand Bazaar of the world. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and detailed visits of the Topkapi Serail (Treasury and Harem Sections are not included!). Between the years of 1458-1855, the palace served as an official seat of the sultan. It covers an area of almost 700.000 m2. The tour visits to Private Boat Cruise on the Bosporus along the Asiatic and European coasts of Istanbul until Sariyer. Also visit to Beylerbeyi Palace the summer resident of the Ottoman Sultans. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

After the breakfast transfer to the airport and return flight.

END OF TOUR WITH THE SWEET MEMORIES OF TURKEY!!!