Ganymedes

 

BIBLICAL GREECE AND TURKEY

THE IONIANS AND CORINTHIANS BIBLICAL SITES

FIRST DAY

ISTANBUL (Lunch, Dinner)

St. Sophia                                                                                                                          Ortaköy Mosque     

                                                   

Arrival at Istanbul airport. Transfer to and visit St. Sophia museum, one of the great architectural marvels of the ancient world. Continue on to the Hippodrome, the sportive and political center of the Old City. Visit the Blue Mosque, facing St. Sophia, famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. Proceed to and  visit Topkapi Palace, which for four centuries was the seat of the Ottoman Empire and see the Chinese Porcelain and treasury section.  The tour completes with a visit to the Grand Bazaar to browse around the maze of over 4000 tiny shops selling gold, jewellry, leatherwork and fine carpets. Overnight Istanbul.  * St. Sophia museum is closed on Monday. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday. Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.

SECOND DAY

ISTANBUL – CANAKKALE (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After an early breakfast, depart and enjoy the scenic drive down to Gallipoli, historically famous for being the site of many battles during WWI. In the afternoon, cross the second strategic waterway, the Dardanelles to the Asian side. Proceed to Troy. Referred to in Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey", Troy has in fact nine cities superimposed one upon another. Troy VI pertains to the famous Trojan War of Homer where the legendary heroes included Agamemnon, Achilles, Ulysses, and Nestor on the Greek side and Priam, Hector, and Paris on the Trojan side. Overnight Canakkale.

THIRD DAY

CANAKKALE – BERGAMA – IZMIR (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Canakkale

Depart for Kusadasi, with a stop in Bergama before visiting the site of Pergamon to see the Acropolis, the Temple of Trajan and the theatre both overlooking the plain of Bergama . Complete the visit with a picture break of  one of the Seven Churches of Revelation in downtown Bergama. Continue onto Thyateria to see the remains of the church. This was one of the principle towns where Christianity quickly spread. View the Church of St. Polycarp in Izmir,  Overnight Izmir   * St. Polycarp church is closed on Sunday.

Izmir by Night

FOURTH DAY

IZMIR – PAMUKKALE (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Pamukkale or Cotton Castle (Hot Springs)

Departure from hotel and visit Sardis, which holds a prominent place in mythology. Sardis felt the influence of the Seven Churches of Revelation and highlights include the 3rd century AD Synagogue, Gymnasium, House of Bronzes, Temple of Artemis, and, of course, the Church. Proceed onto Philadelphia, an important Christian centre during Byzantine times and see the  Basilica.  Head onto  Pamukkale and  enjoy the calcified terraces and,  at a distance, view the remains of the grave of St. Philip . The tour completes with a visit to Laodicea Ad Lycum where the remains are found on a flat-topped hill.  Christianity came to the area during the time of St. Paul, brought by Epaphras of Colossae. Laodicea became the seat of Bishopric and hosted an important Ecumenical Council in the fourth century AD. It was named in the Revelations as one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse.  Highlights are the  Agora, the Fountain, Water Tower, the Stadium and the Council Chamber.  Overnight.

 

FIFTH DAY

PAMUKKALE - KUSADASI (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Kusadasi - Ephesus

In the morning, tour the Antique City of Hierapolis,  where Calcareous hot springs descending over cliffs have created fascinating travertines in the form of white terrace and basins. Depart and drive to Selcuk to visit the Church of Virgin Mary, located  on top of Mt. Coressos and where it is believed she passed the last years of her life. Mary came to Ephesus with St. John and was taken up to Panaghia Kapulu Mountain to survive the Roman persecutions. Today the House of Virgin Mary is recognized as a shrine by the Vatican.Continue onto Ephesus; perhaps the world's best preserved ancient city and its ruins attract visitors from across the globe. An important Christian community arose here and Ephesus was visited by St. Paul, who later wrote one of his epistles to the Ephesians. Perhaps its greatest claim to fame is the fact that Ephesus once housed the Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

 

SIXTH DAY

KUSADASI - AEGEAN SEA CRUISE  – PATMOS (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Patmos

Transfer to the port of Kusadasi by 1100 and embark on cruise ship.  Depart sailing at 1200 and arrive 1630 at the port of Patmos, This Greek island is known as the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine, written his during his exile from the Roman Empire. The cave where he lived is now the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. The Monastery of St. John (visited on the optional tour) built on one of the island’s highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its treasury. Depart sailing at 2100. After dinner, enjoy the live on board entertainment or, play a game in the casino. Overnight on board.

 

SEVENTH DAY

AEGEAN SEA CRUISE – SANTORINI (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Santorini

Breakfast on board. Cruise ship arrives at 08:00 on the amazing island of Santorini. Walk round the town with its array of shops and boutiques or, sit in a café and enjoy the view to the caldera. Depart sailing at 2100. After dinner, enjoy the last night on board live entertainment or, that last hand in the casino.

 

EIGHTH DAY

AEGEAN SEA CRUISE ARRIVAL – CORINTH TOUR – ATHENS SIGHTSEEING (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Ancient Corinth

Breakfast on board.  Disembark. 0730: Meet at the port of Athens (Piraeus). (After that Paul left Athens and went to Corinth) Drive west, along the coastal highway and stop to see the amazing sight of the Corinth Canal, which separates the Aegean and the Ionian seas.  Continue to and visit Ancient Corinth. See the Bema where St Paul preached the gospel to the Corinthians, the Temple of Apollo, remains of the Agora and Pyrene Fountain.  Completing the tour, return to Athens for Athens tour. See Syntagma Square (Constitution Square), the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the Evzones in their traditional costume. See the Athens Academy and the University. Visit the Pan Athenaic Olympic stadium, where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. See the archaeological site of the Temple of the Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. Visit the world famous site of the Acropolis and see the Propylaea and the Parthenon. Down from the Acropolis is Areopagos, where St. Paul preached the gospel to the Athenians. Overnight in Athen Hotel.

Athens

 

NINTH DAY

ATHENS –  KALAMBAKA, METEORA (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Kalambaka                                                                                                                     Meteora monasteries

After breakfast, depart and drive north, along the highway, passing the towns of Lamia,  Trikala, and  Thermopylae (short stop to see across the road)  Leonida’s Monument (Film 300) to Kalambaka (Meteora). Arrive and stop for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit 2 of the Meteora monasteries.   Standing amid striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks, which seem to be suspended in mid air. Inside, see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art, manuscripts and jewellery.  Completing the tour, check in at the hotel.  Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka hotel.

 

TENTH DAY

KALAMBAKA – VERIA - THESSALONIKI – KAVALA – DRAMA – O/N TRAIN TO TURKEY (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Veria                                                                                                                         Philippi

After breakfast, continue north, passing Larissa and Veria (The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Veria) to Greece’s second city, Thessaloniki where the Apostole St Paul spread the word of Christianity to the Macedonians. On the way, view Mt. Olympus, the ancient home of the 12 Greek Gods.  Take a tour of the city, seeing the sights: the Via Egnatia, the Rotunda, the White Tower. Depart along the coast to Kavala, Biblical Neapolis and visit Philippi. See the remains of the two Basilicas, the Via Egnatia, the Agora and see St. Paul’s prison. You will also see Lydia’s Baptismal the first European woman convert by St Paul. Dinner at a local restaurant before driving onto the train station at Drama and boarding the overnight train to Istanbul.  Overnight on train.

 

ELEVENTH DAY

ISTANBUL – CITY TOUR (Lunch, Dinner)

Arrive Istanbul early in the morning and proceed on full day tour to the sights of the City.

 

TWELFTH DAY

ISTANBUL (Breakfast)

Breakfast in the Hotel, transfer to the airport, departure.