Journeys of Paul in

TURKEY & GREECE

April 26 – May 6, 2020

$3,998.00 from New York

$4,296.00 from Jacksonville, FL

Other departure cities available

Corinth and the Bema

ITINERARY

April 26 – Departure from USA
Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your overnight, international flight.

April 27 – Arrival in TURKEY
Arrive in Izmir and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

April 28 – PERGAMUM
Today travel north to Pergamum; the most favored of the Seven Churches was Pergamum and the church was praised for its forbearance during hard times (Rev. 2: 12- 17). Rome executed the first Christians here. Towering 1000 feet above the town is the fabled Acropolis. As you pass through the Royal Gates, you will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture. You’ll see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Athena and the ruins of the Library that once held 200,000 parchment volumes. You’ll also see the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the Grand Theatre, the Gymnasium, and the Health Center (Asclepeion). Return to Izmir to your hotel. (Dinner and overnight in Izmir)

April 29 – SARDIS and HIERAPOLIS
Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation, was berated by John the Prophet for its facade of strength when, in reality, it was weak (Rev. 3:1-6). In Sardis, coins were minted and the dyeing of wool originated. The massive scale of the Temple of Artemis and by the white marble Royal Road, the gymnasium and the synagogue will impress you. Continue on to Hierapolis, known for its hot mineral springs and some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor. Christianity came to Hierapolis via Paul (Colossians 4:13). Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle”. It is named for the limestone-laden hot springs that cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next. Check in to your Hierapolis hotel (Dinner and overnight in Hierapolis)

April 30 – LAODICEA and APHRODISIAS
The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches (Rev 3:14-22), were chastised for being lukewarm, “You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3:14) and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous scripture from Revelation (3:20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the stadium and columned streets. Visit the excavations at Miletus, where Paul bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus at the end of his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20). Check in to your Kusadasi hotel. (Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi)

May 1 – EPHESUS
Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets. Today you will be impressed with the spectacular excavations of the major streets of ancient Ephesus. You’ll view the Library and the huge Agora. The Temple of Artemis was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, only a single column remains to mark the site. You’ll visit the Basilica of St. John, traditional site of his grave. From the basilica, enjoy a commanding view of the area. You’ll visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city. You will have time to explore this powerful city on your own and recreate some of the footsteps of Paul. Return to your hotel. (Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi)

May 2 – ATHENS
Transfer to Izmir for flights to Athens. Enjoy the architectural splendors of the ancient city of Athens as you follow your guide to the world renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. View Mars Hill where the apostle Paul stood and said, “I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23). See the Agora, the ancient market place and center of the Athenian public life. Here the apostle Paul preached “Jesus and the Resurrection” (Acts 17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. (Dinner and overnight in Athens)

May 3 – CORINTH and CENCHREAE
In Corinth you will see the city where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla, the tent makers, and where the Lord spoke to Paul by a vision saying, “I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 18: 10). Here, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord, and many Corinthians as well hearing Paul, believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8); thus, began the church at Corinth to whom Paul wrote two epistles. Visit the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place and Temples. Walk among the ruins and stand on the Bema where Paul stood before Gallio facing charges brought by the Jews that were dropped. Paul stayed awhile in Corinth before leaving for Syria from the port at Cenchreae (Acts 18:12-18). Late afternoon flight to Thessaloniki –Transfer to your hotel (Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki)

May 4 – PHILIPPI
Visit Philippi, where Paul, intending to find a place to pray by the riverside, spoke to women who had gathered there. Among those was Lydia, the seller of purple and whose heart the Lord opened to hear the words that he spoke (Acts 16:13-15). Lydia was the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. Visit the place where this event is remembered and see a crypt dating from the Roman period, which is thought to have served as a prison for the apostle Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, the Basilica, and the Theater. Return to your hotel (Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki)

May 5 – THESSALONIKI
In Thessaloniki, the city where Paul was accused of turning the world upside down by his preaching of Christ (Acts 17: 3-6), and the church to which he addressed his Thessalonian epistles, visit St. George’s Basilica, where tradition holds it is built over the synagogue where Paul preached. View the Old City Ramparts, and the Galerius Arch that rises over the Via Egnatia. See two of the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St. Sophia and St. Demetrios, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert. Return to your hotel (Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki)

May 6 –DEPARTURE – Return to the USA.
Return home with a new understanding of the apostle Paul’s life and ministry.