Arrival to İstanbul Atatürk Airport, transfer and check-in to the hotel.
After breakfast visits of Haghia Sophia; the centre of religious life in Byzantine period and the 4th biggest church of the world, Hippodrome with its monuments, Blue Mosque with its six minarets tiles, Covered Bazaar; the 15th century built shopping centre with over 4500 shops, the Chora Church with famous mosaics depicted Virgin Mary and Christ’s lifes.
Early departure to Çanakkale. After lunch visit the legendary ruins of the city of Troy made famous in Iliad and Odyssey of Homeros. Then drive to Pergamon and stay overnight.
Visit the Acropolis of ancient Pergamon. Its grandeur makes up for the missing Altar of Zeus (in the Berlin Museum) which was referred as ” Satan’s Seat” in the Bible. Pergamon was a great centre 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 visit of the Asclepion, the ancient hospital where famous doctor Gallen worked. After lunch visit of the Red Church of Pergamon which is one of the seven churches of the Revelations. Drive to İzmir (ancient Symrna) visit of St. Policarp’s Church. Arriving to Selçuk and check-in to the hotel.
A full day visit of Ephesus; one of the largest and best preserved ancient cities of the world, The Grand Theater where St. Paul preached eloquently to the Ephesians in his second and third journeys. The Temple of Artemis; one of the seven wonders of ancient world. The House of Virgin Mary where it is believed that she spent her last days. (A holy mass can be organized at the house of Virgin Mary declared a pilgrimage place by the Pope.) The Church of Mary one of the seven churches of the revelation where the second ecumonical council held in 431. (The three dogmas of christianity were accepted.) The Basilica of St. John where he was buried and a church dedicated to him by Emperor Justinianus. Drive to Laodiceia. The geopraphic location of the city explains why the Laodiceians were “neither hot nor cold but lukewarm” as it says in the Bible. Check in to the hotel in Pamukkale.
Early in the morning visit of Pamukkale, its ancient city Hierapolis with the Martyrium of St. Philippe.Then drive to Philadelphia; the city of “brotherly love”, then a short bus ride to Sardes where Christianity took root at an early age. Even though the new faith appeared to have make rapid progress here, St. John was not convinced that all was well and he admonished the Christians there to avoid temptation. Visit of Thyatira, drive to Bursa and check-in to the hotel.
Bursa was the capital of Ottoman Empire. Visits of Grand Mosque, the Green Tomb and Silk Bazaar. After lunch drive to Nicaea (İznik) ; where the seventh Ecumenical Council took place in the Church of St. Sophia. This council settled the controversy over iconoclastic worship. Drive to İstanbul and check-in to the hotel.
Transfer to the Airport and flight back to home.
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