Firstly, visit The Basilica of St John. Then visit the most impressive biblical site of our trip: Ephesus. The former glory of this city can still today be easily appreciated from its well–preserved streets, temples, fountains, public baths, terraced houses and theatres. Ephesus was also the site of the Artemis temple—one of seven wonders of the ancient world. There is the same theatre where some 24,000 citizens of Ephesus gathered shouting “Great is Artemis!” in a riot started in response to Paul’s ministry there. The apostle visited this city only briefly during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18–21) but returned during his third missionary journey for a much longer period of two years and three months (Acts 19:1–20:1). Timothy later served as pastor in this city during which time Paul wrote him two letters (1 & 2 Timothy). Some years later Ephesus served as the home base for the apostle John’s ministry from where he wrote a number of letters (1, 2, 3 John) and to which he sent the Book of Revelation. In addition to the ancient city, visit the “slope houses” (the wealthiest homes in Ephesus that have been marvelously reconstructed), the Ephesus Museum, which houses several impressive items from this site.
We will also have lunch at St. John Café which is leading by some missionaries who are planting church in modern Ephesus region. We will have chance to talk and hear with/from them. Overnight and dinner, near Ephesus or Kusadasi.
Day 3- Pamukkale
Miletus, Didyma , Priene
Today we are going to 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). The site contains a large theater where an important inscription refers to the Jews and “God-fearers” of the city. The God-fearers were monotheistic Gentiles who constituted a large portion of Paul’s converts. Then we will visit Didyma's Temple of Apollo with its very well-known oracles and one of the sacred places of antiquity. Walk in the footsteps of priests who visited this great temple to consult the oracle. Although looted and burnt many times, it keeps the original impression. Priene, another site on this leg of the trip, had a synagogue (recently discovered) and had a substantial Christian community during the Byzantine period and was the seat of a bishop. Overnight in Pamukkale at a spa hotel.
Day 4- Pamukkale
Collosea, Laodicea , Hierapolis
Start the day by visiting the first of the three key biblical cities in the Lycus Valley: Colossae will be brief, since this site has not yet been excavated. Nevertheless, this is an important site for Christians to visit, since Paul sent here two letters: one to the church of Colossae. Our second stop is Laodicea. Although the excavation work is still in its early stages, Laodicea was a major city in Roman times, as is clear from not only the size of the ancient site but also its two theatres, stadium, aqueduct and major street lined with shops. Laodicea is not only the last of the seven churches to whom John directed the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:14–22), but it also had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13–15) and was the recipient of one of Paul’s now lost letters (Col. 4:16). Rev. 3:7–13), commending them for their patience endurance in spite of persecution. Final stop is Hierapolis. With its hot thermal springs well–known already in the ancient world for its medicinal qualities as well its spectacular white travertine terraces, Hierapolis remains just as popular with travelers today as it was in biblical times. Equally impressive, however, are the remains of the ancient city: the Arch of Domitian, a colonnaded street and marketplace, ancient baths, a 20,000–seat theatre built in 200 BC, the largest ancient graveyard in Anatolia containing over 1,200 tombs, tumuli and sarcophagi, and the Martyrium of St. Philip, a 5th century AD structure on the site where Philip—either the apostle or the evangelist (Acts 6:1–7; 21:8–9; Acts of Philip)—was believed to have been killed in AD 80. Our next stop is Philadelphia where much of this ancient city in an earthquake–prone area has either been destroyed or lies buried under the modern city. John wrote to the church here. Our second stop is Laodicea. Although the excavation work is still in its early stages, Laodicea was a major city in Roman times, as is clear from not only the size of the ancient site but also its two theatres, stadium, aqueduct and major street lined with shops. Laodicea is not only the last of the seven churches to whom John directed the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:14–22), but it also had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13–15) and was the recipient of one of Paul’s now lost letters (Col. 4:16). Rev. 3:7–13), commending them for their patience endurance in spite of persecution. Overnight and dinner at Pamukkale.
Day 5- Konya
Psidian Antioch, Iconium
We travel first one of the most important city in Paul’s first missionary journey: Antioch of Pisidia (not to be confused with Antioch on the Orontes). Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of a thriving city, complete with theater, imperial temple, stadium, baths, water fountains, paved streets and aqueduct. This Antioch included Christians to whom Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians. We visit both the ruins of the ancient city as well as its small museum in Yalvac, which contains the important Sergius Paulus inscription and the famous funerary inscription of Caesar Augustus. Our second stop is Konya, known in the ancient world as Iconiun, was a key place where Paul ministered not only on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:1–7) but almost certainly on his second and third missionary journeys as well (Acts 16:6; 18:23). We stop briefly at Alaadin Tepesi —the current location of one of the oldest mosques in the city but more importantly the acropolis of ancient Iconium. The columns in the mosque date back to Roman times and so connect us to the ministry of Paul in this city. Located nearby is the ancient city of Lystra, which we will not visit, since it today contains little left of its former glory. Yet it is another important site in Paul’s life, since here too the apostle ministered on each of his three missionary journeys (Acts 14:5–20; Acts 16:6; 18:23) and was the home town of his closest helper, Timothy.
We will have overnight in Konya.
Day 6 - Cappadocia
After breakfast to arrive magical region of Cappadocia for the three–hour drive to Konya, We will have a stop in a caravanserai ‘ Sultan Han’ . Then , The remarkable region of Cappadocia is where the erosion of soft volcanic stone has created bizarre yet beautiful geological formations—rock cones, capped pinnacles, stark ravines and steep precipices. We will also visit the Underground City of Kaymakli. This is one of around 40 underground cities whose use dates back to the 5th century BC, which were extensively occupied by Christians during the Byzantine period. We are going to have overnight and dinner at our hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 7- Cappadocia
At Morning: Optional Hot Air Balloon Tour
First stop is The Göreme Open Air Museum, declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site, contains some 30 or more churches built by carving rooms out of the soft volcanic tufa. These churches date from the 9th century onwards and feature superb Byzantine frescoes of biblical and early Christian scenes...
Walking at Zelve Valley and more stops for more churches.
Day 8- Cappadocia
Trekking at Soganlı Valley.
Urgup, Avanos and handicrafts of Cappadocia. Overnight and dinner at our hotel Cappadocia.
