Assemble

Arrive into Istanbul in the morning. Freshen up and rest. Continue to Domestic Airport to take flight to Antioch (Antakya). Arrive into Antioch and transfer for lunch. Begin our tour of Antioch by visiting St Peter’s Church, where Christ’ followers were first called ‘Christians’. Then proceed to visit Seleucia Pieria which is the sea port that St. Paul sailed from. Experience the tunnel of Titus which was built during the 1st century. Visit the city center of Antioch. Dinner and overnight at Antioch.

Breakfast at hotel. Check out of hotel and drive to Tarsus. Visit the birth place of St Paul, St Paul’s House and Well and St Paul’s church, built in his honour. Later visit Cleopatra’s Gate, the old Roman Street, River Cydnus with the old bridge. Lunch and drive on to Cappadocia. Arrive into Cappadocia, check into hotel and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. Cappadocia is unique for its underground cities. The first Christians who escaped from the persecution of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century came to Cappadocia to live in the underground cities. We start the day by visiting the Goreme Open Air Museum, which is on the Unesco World Heritage list since 1984. Lunch at local restaurant Uchisar. Next we visit Kaymakli underground city which is believed to be from the Bronze Age and used mostly during the Byzantine period. We move on to see the natural rock citadel of Uchisar, which is the tallest point in Cappadocia and visible from a great distance. Return to hotel and overnight at Hotel.

Very early breakfast at hotel. Check out and depart for Pamukkale via Konya. On the way, visit Yalvac Psidian where St Paul preached in a synagogue. Visit an old road from the time of St Paul. Lunch enroute and visit Caravansarai. Caravansarai was a caravan stop on the ancient silk trade routes which carried the riches of Persia and China to the markets of Europe and China. We then drive on to Pamukkale. Pamukkale, is Turkey's foremost mineral-bath spa because of its natural beauty: hot calcium-laden waters spring from the earth and which cascades over a cliff. Visit the site of the Roman city of Hierapolis. Overnight at hotel.

Rev. 3:14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the worlds of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s Creation.” Rev. 3:7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of Him who is holy and true, Who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.” Rev. 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars; I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” Rev. 2: 18 “And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘These are the words of the Son of God whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze'. Breakfast at the hotel. Then drive to Philadelphia, the Sixth Church, the least distinguished cities of the Seven churches with very few ruins visible now. Visit a Byzantine basilica built of bricks with high arches and frescoes. Lunch at Alkent Restaurant. Then we visit Sardis, the Fifth Church, which is one of the most picturesque areas of the fifth of the Seven Churches. It is set upon a steep hill surrounded by a citadel where once there was a famous temple of Artemis dating back to 400 BC. Overnight in Izmir.

Rev. 2:8 “And unto the angel of the church in SMYRNA write: These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive;” Rev. 2:1 'To the angel of the church of Ephesus write: 'These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands;” After breakfast, visit St Polycarp Church in Izmir, the 3rd largest city in Turkey. It is built on the site of the ancient Greek town of Smyrna which is the Second Church. Make a brief visit to the ancient Agora. Next, drive to Ephesus, First of the Seven Churches. See the most impressive archeological site in Turkey. It was center of worship for the Greek goddess, Artemis. Proceed to visit the terrace houses near the library. Visit the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After lunch at Aziziye Restaurant, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, St John’s Basilica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and a large theatre. Dinner and return to hotel for overnight stay.

Rev. 2: 12 'And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.' Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we visit the ancient Acropolis of Pergamum. The Acropolis of Pergamum (Pergamon) is certainly dramatic, perched atop a high, steep-sided hill at the eastern reaches of the modern city at the foot of Pergamum, we visit the Temple of Asclepius. Overnight at Kusadasi.

After breakfast take the boat to Patmos. Today is a full day of Patmos. On Patmos you can see the Apocalypse of St John and the cave where he wrote the books. Later visit the Monastery of Ionanni built around the year 1088. Lunch. After the tour, return to Kusadasi and overnight.

After your Quiet Time, have breakfast and depart from hotel. We now drive to Bursa via Nicea. See the ruins of St Sophia Cathedral, the seat of the First Ecumenical Council of 325. Lunch at local restaurant and overnight in Bursa.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Istanbul. Take the ferry to cross over. Visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque – Blue Mosque, Hagia Sopha Church, the Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace. We will visit Hagia Irene, meeting place of the 2nd Ecumenical Council in 381. Then it’s time for shopping at the Grand Bazaar and the Egypt Bazaar. Dinner at Restaurant. Transfer to hotel and overnight at Hotel in Istanbul Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at hotel. Check out of hotel. We start the day with a breathtaking cruise along the Bhosphorus, the beautiful strait that divides Europe and Asia. After lunch visit Chora Church. Transfer to airport for flight to Kuala Lumpur.

Board flight for Kuala Lumpur. Arrive in Kuala Lumpur with many happy memories of your visit to Turkey and the 7 Churches.