Footstep Ministries: Turkey Itinerary

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Day Nine

Istanbul - Free Day

Enjoy a free day in Istanbul. Stroll through the Grand Bazaar with its 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops. Buy a Turkish kilim rug or some Turkish delilght!

Day Ten

Istanbul

The day begins with a tour of the spectacular Topkapi Palace and its Treasury. Built on one of the seven hills of Istanbul, this huge complex commands views of the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. We pause just inside the gate to recite the Nicene Creed by the church where it was crafted into its final form. In the afternoon, we continue our tour of Istanbul with a visit to the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine architecture. The interior of the building is covered with fine mosaics and frescoes. Final farewell dinner at a local Turkish restaurant. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day Eleven

Depart

Depart for home with great memories!

Day Seven

Istanbul

A quick morning flight takes us to Istanbul where we spend the afternoon on a boat ride on the Bosphorus, taking in the many sites of this cultural center of both East and West. While in the harbor area we venture into Istanbul’s famous Spice Market. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day Eight

Istanbul

Our first full day in Istanbul has us enjoying the great city of the Emperor Constantine and the monuments of the Eastern Roman Empire. We visit the Suleymaniye Mosque (Blue Mosque), famous for its delicate blue ceramic tiles and the sheer architectural size of its interior & magnificent dome. After visiting one of Islam’s most religious sites, we make our way to Agia Sophia, the Byzantine Church of Holy Wisdom, once the leading church in all of Christendom. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day Five

Pamukkale/ Laodicea/ Aphrodisias/ Ephesus

It's just a brief ride to Laodicea, the church that Jesus wanted to spit out of his mouth. Our next stop is Aphrodisias, one of the best preserved Roman cities in Asia Minor. We will visit its Temple to Aphrodite that was later converted into a Christian basilica. Highlights include the Stadium, the Baths of Hadrian, the Theater and the Bishops Palace. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day Six

Kusadasi/ Ephesus/ Izmir

This morning before we proceed to the ancient city of Ephesus we visit the basilica of St. John, the Evangelist, and celebrate communion at the traditional site of his burial. Then to ancient Ephesus with its magnificent excavations that are simply amazing both in scope and artistry. We visit the Terrace Houses with their outstanding frescoes, then to the Ephesus Museum with its Greek and Roman artifacts, especially the statue of Domitian, the emperor responsible for John’s exile on the island of Patmos. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day Three

Izmir/ Pergamum/ Thyatira

Today we explore Izmir (Smyrna) and the ancient site of the biblical town as we begin our examination of John’s letters to the seven churches. We then set out to take in the breath-taking view from the Hellenistic Acropolis of Pergamum and the location of Satan’s throne (Rev. 2:13). In the afternoon, we visit our third church, Thyatira, one of the principal towns during the days of John. We end our day back in the port city of Izmir with dinner and overnight.

Day Four

Izmir/ Sardis/ Philadelphia

We leave Izmir and continue to Sardis and view the 3rd c. Synagogue, Gymnasium, and Temple of Artemis and hear again John’s wake up call to this congregation. Then on to Philadelphia, an important Christian center during Byzantine times. Our next stop is Hierapolis which is mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4. We see the gleaming white travertine terraces created by the thermal springs. Were they the inspiration for Jesus’ message “I wish you were either hot or cold"? We tour the expansive necropolis stretching out over a mile. We also visit the theater, one of the best preserved in the Mediterranean world. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

TURKEY 11 DAYS

Istanbul & the Seven Churches of Revelation

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Day One and Two

Departure and Arrival

Arrival in Istanbul and board commuter flight to Izmir for dinner and overnight.