SEVEN
CHURCHES OF REVELATIONS TOUR
Day 1: ARRIVE Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
(D)
Day 2: Istanbul
After breakfast, a full day visit of
the city, including the Hagia Sophia church,
glory of the Byzantine Empire; the Blue Mosque famous for its interior
tiles from Nicea; Byzantine Hippodrome where
once horse and chariot races took place; the Church of St. Savior in Chora, representing best examples of the Byzantine
mosaic art with scenes from the life of Blessed Virgin; Topkapi
Palace with its magnificent exhibitions of the treasury, silverware,
costumes etc. Lunch during visits and dinner in the hotel.
(B-L-D)
Day 3: Istanbul / Bursa
After breakfast depart for Nicea (Iznik)
taking the Intercontinental Suspension
Bridge over the
Bosphorus and a short ferry ride in the Sea
of Marmara. Home of two
Ecumenical Councils, Nicea has several Byzantine and
Ottoman relics in the heart of ancient Bytinia. Here
you’ll see Hagia Sophia church
and the City Walls. Lunch in the restaurant and proceed to Bursa,
first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Grand Mosque, Green Mosque and Mausoleum.
Dinner and stay in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 4: Bursa / Pamukkale
Breakfast in the
hotel and drive to Sardis, ancient capital of Lydia and one of the Seven Churches. There is a beautiful archaeological site where you’ll
see a church, restored Roman Baths, Synagogue and shops. After lunch proceed to
Alasehir and visit another Church of the Apocalypse, Philadelphia, where you’ll see the Church
of St John with some frescoes. Then continue to Pamukkale visiting Laodicea and its barely
excavated site. Dinner in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 5:
Pamukkale / Izmir
After breakfast visit Hierapolis where St. Philip was
martyred and proceed to Ephesus, ancient Roman capital of Asia Minor.
Here you’ll see the Library of Celsus, largest
theater in Anatolia where St.
Paul faced the Ephesians
supporting their goddess Artemis, Temple
of Hadrian, Roman Baths, Agoras etc. After
Lunch visit the House of Virgin Mary on Panaghia Kapulu Mountain where it is believed that she spent last years of her life.
Then visit the Basilica of St. John where he was buried after returning
from exile in Patmos and Justinian built a cathedral over his tomb in the sixth
century. Drive to Smyrna, modern day Izmir, for dinner and overnight. (B-L-D)
Day 6: Izmir / Assos
Breakfast in the hotel and depart for Assos. Along the way visit Tyatira
(Akhisar) where you’ll see foundations of a
Christian church and Roman road. Then proceed to Pergamon
to visit the church of St.
John at the Red Court, and the Acropolis for its Hellenistic and Roman relics.
After lunch drive to Assos where St. Paul visited after Alexandria Troas on his
third journey. Dinner and stay in
the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 7: Assos / Istanbul
After breakfast depart for Troy,
place of the famous Trojan War, the city is dating back to 3,000 BC with 9
different layers of settlers. You can also see a replica of the Trojan Horse. Take a ferry across Dardanelles
strait and then a pleasant drive to Istanbul.
Lunch en route. Dinner and Stay in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 8: DEPART Istanbul
Breakfast and transfer to Istanbul
airport for your flight. End of Services. (B)