BIBLICAL
JEWELS OF TURKEY / GREECE
15
Days / 14 Nights
Day 1: Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul, the city that bridges
two continents, “Europe” and “Asia”. You
will be met at the airport, assistance
and transfer to the hotel. There you will
have a briefing and welcome cocktail.
Overnight in Istanbul. (C)
Day 2: Istanbul
Morning visit to the Museum of St. Sophia
(the Church of Divine Wisdom, built by
Justinian) a fantastic church. In the
words of the historians of 6th century
“Had not been since Adam and never would
be again”. Then visit to the Hippodrome,
where chariot races and athletic events
took place during the Roman period. Continue
to the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent.
Lunch at Daruzziyafe, a formal medieval
Islamic college or medrese. Then an afternoon
visit to the Kariye Museum, the old church
of St. Saviour in Chora treasuring the
marvelous mosaics and frescoes which represent
scenes drawn from, the cycle of the life
of the Virgin and of Christ which have
been restored under the guidance of the
Byzantine Institute of Boston. Drive to
the Dolmabahce Palace, a masterpiece of
the 19th century palaces in the Renaissance
Style, right on the Bosphorus. The interior
is of great richness with the world’s
largest crystal chandelier and variety
of material employed: crystal, alabaster,
marble, porphyry and inlays. Overnight
in Istanbul. (B, L)
Day 3 : Alexandra Troas
Early Departure for Alexandra Troas.
Visit Legendary city Troy en-route. After
lunch we drive to Assos. In his journey
Paul went by land from Alexandria Troas
to Assos. St. Luke and the others took
a ship and met St. Paul in Assos. Overnight
stay in Assos. (B, D)
Day 4 : Pergamum - Thyatira
Early departure for Pergamum. Visit the
Acropolis. Its grandeur makes up for the
missing Altar of Zeus (in the Berlin Museum),
which was referred to in the Bible as
"Satan's Seat." Pergamum was
a great center of scholarship and learning.
Anthony took the library from here with
its 200,000 rolls and transferred it to
Alexandria as a present for Cleopatra.
After the Acropolis we will visit the
Acslepion, the ancient hospital. The ruins
here are so complete that walking among
them one can relive the methods employed
in this health center from sacrifice to
psychodrama. We will also visit the Church
of St. John that was built into the red
court. After lunch, we drive to see the
site of the Church of Izmir (Symrna) via
Thaytira. Overnight stay in Izmir. (B,
L)
Day 5 : Sardes - Philadelphia - Leodicea
- Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Departure to Sardes, to see the beautifully
restored Synagogue/Church, which is one
of the most unique of its kind. Next continue
to Philedelphia. another of the Christian
congregations, and a city built in 2 BC
by King Eumenos. Continue to PAMUKKALE
(Hierapolis). Visit Leodicea en-route.
Watch the sunset over the petrified water-falls.
Overnight in Pamukkale. (B, D)
Day 6: Virgin Mary - Ephesus
After visiting Pamukkale, drive to Ephesus,
home of St. Paul between 53 AD - 57 AD
to visit the most impressive archaeological
site of today. Before reaching Ephesus
comes the most holy visit of the tour.
Stop at the last home of the Virgin Mary
which is visited by over a hundred thousand
pilgrims each year. In 1967 Pope Paul
VI and in 1979 Pope Paul II both celebrated
mass here and also prayed in the double
church in Ephesus. St. John brought the
Virgin Mary to live here in peace in her
final years. After praying for health
in this holy atmosphere of an ancient
place of worship, continue to St. John’s
basilica and his tomb. In the afternoon
visit Ephesus, the city dedicated to Artemis,
the best preserved archaeological site
in Asia Minor. Visit the odeon, the marble
street, where St. Paul walked and held
daily discussions (act. 19:9) the Temple
of Artemis, one the Seven Wonders of the
ancient world, the Celsus Library, the
Temple of Hadrian and the theater. St.
Paul attended the synagogue in Ephesus
discussing Christianity there for three
months before he moved his converts to
the lecture hall of Thyrannus. There he
taught when the hall was otherwise empty
during the middle of the day for about
two years. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
(B, D)
Day 7 : Kusadasi - Patmos (cruise)
Morning at leisure for shopping in Kusadasi.
Around noon transfer to the Kusadasi port
to embark on the cruise ship. Cruise to
Patmos, the tiny, rocky island where the
exiled St. John the Divine received the
Revelation which forms the last book of
the New Testament. Optional tour of the
11th century monastery of St. John is
available. Tonight you will sail to Rhodes.
Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L,
D)
Day 8 : Rhodes
Morning arrival at Rhodes, the island
of Roses and site of the ancient Colossus
of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of
the World. Here you can take an optional
tour to Lindos with its bay of St. Paul,
where St. Paul landed, and its acropolis,
dedicated to the goddess Athena; stroll
though the medieval city with the streets
of Knights and the stone mansions or enjoy
swim on one of the beautiful beaches of
the island. Late afternoon sail to Crete.
Dinner and overnight on board. (B, L,
D)
Day 9 : Heraklion (Crete) - Santorini
Morning arrival at Heraklion, the capital
of Crete. A few miles away is the Palace
of Knossos, discovered by Sir Arthur Evans
in 1899, center of the famed Minoan civilization
and one of the most important archaeological
sites in the world. Noon sail to Santorini
the most spectacular of the Greek Islands.
The town of Thira is perched on a cliff
created by volcanic eruption. Optional
visit to the Akrotiri excavation where
recent Minoan discoveries support the
theories that Santorini might be the remains
of the lost continent of Atlantis. At
night sail to Piraeus. Dinner and overnight
on board.(B, L, D)
Day 10 : Athens - Acropolis - Corinth
Breakfast on board. Disembarkation and
transfer to the bus for a city tour that
will give you the opportunity to observe
the striking contrasts that make Athens
such a fascinating city. Our expert guides
take you on a bus orientation through
the main streets to The Tomb of Unknown
Soldier, the Parliament House guarded
by the Evzones, the National Library,
the Panathenian Stadium built for the
first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and
the Temple of Zeus. Conclude your tour
on the Acropolis hill with the masterpiece
of the Golden Age, the Parthenon. View
the Erectheion, the Propylea, the Parthenon
Temple and visit the Acropolis Museum.
On the slopes of the Acropolis you will
view the Neopagus on Mars Hill, site of
St. Paul’s address to “the men of Athens”
about their “unknown God” (Act 17). In
the afternoon, continue the tour via the
Bay of Salamis, the Corinth Canal and
the Saronic Gulf to Corinth. Corinth,
an important place and congregation in
St. Paul’s odyssey (Act, 18 and Letters
to the Corinthians) with its temple of
Apollo ruins set against the Acrocorinth
on which the Temple of Aphrodite was located.
This is the city where Paul worked with
Aquilla and Priscilla. Return to Athens
in the evening. Dinner and overnight at
the hotel in Corinth. (B, D)
Day 11 : Athens - Delphi - Meteora
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning tour
departure. Drive through the ancient kingdon
of Thebes to Levadia, Arachova and Delphi,
one of the most famous archaeological
sites in the world. Visit the Sanctuary
of Apollo Pythios and the Museum. Continue
your tour with a drive through the pleasant
valleys of mount Parnassos, the river
Spercheios and the plains of Thessaly
to the town of Kalambaka at the foot of
Meteora. Dinner and overnight in Meteora.(B,
D)
Day 12 : Meteora - Thessaloniki
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the greatest
and most important monastery of all, the
“Great Meteoran” and see perfectly preserved
Frescoes of the 14th century, holy Icons
offered by Byzantine Royal Dynasties and
ancient manuscripts belonging to Royal
collections and libraries. Depart via
Larissa and the valley of Tempi crossed
by the river Pinaos, to the province of
Macedonia and Mt. Olympus, residence of
Zeus and the 12 Olympian Gods. At the
foot of the mountain you will visit the
recently excavated sancuary of Dion, the
ancient city of Dion and the perfectly
preserved shrines and collections of the
new archaeological museum of Dion. Continue
to Thessaloniki, capital of the province
of Macedonia where you will visit the
famous Byzantine churches and the museum’s
unique findings of the excavations at
Vergina the Royal Tomb of King Philip
the Second, father of Alexander the Great.
Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
(B, D)
Day 13 : Thessaloniki - Amphipolis -
Philippi - Kavala
After breakfast at the hotel you will
depart for Amphipolis and the Region of
the Lakes Corinia and Volvi. Visit the
colossal Lion monument at Amphipolis (5th
century BC) and proceed to Philippi, site
of the famous battle between two Roman
armies, where you will have an opportunity
to follow the steps of St. Paul, St. Timothy
and St. Silas. Short stop at the city
and harbor of Kavala before you return
to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
(B, D)
Day 14 : Pella - Athens
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure
for Pella, the ancient capital of King
Philip and birthplace of Alexander the
Great (356 BC). Visit the site and proceed
to Lefkadia for a visit to the newly discovered
temple-like tombs of the 4th century BC
covered with perfectly preserved frescoes.
Continue to Athens via the Tempi plains,
the towns of Larissa and Lamia, the famous
battlefield of Thermopylae and the spa
of Kammena Vourla. Overnight in Athens.
(B, D)
Day 15 : Athens - Departure
Transfer to the airport for your homebound
flight. (B)
Package
Tours
