A GREEK ISLANDS CRUISE AND EXCURSIONS TO THE MOST IMPORTANT
SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION IN TURKEY

A Special Tour Following The Footsteps Of Apostles St. Paul And St. John

Day 1: Departure from U.S.A. Via a transatlantic flight. Dinner, breakfast and in-flight entertainment on board.

Day 2: Arrival to Athens the cradle of civilization. Today we visit the Acropolis, the Agora and the Pnyx where democracy was born. We will see the Parliament, the Tomb of the unknown soldier and the Presidential Palace. If time and energy permit we continue our tour to Corint. St. Paul lived here for eighteen months. He found a city of poor moral values and rejection but Corint eventually accepted christianity (Acts 18:1-17). We visit the Bema from which he preached to the Corintians the Word of God. We also visit the Archeological Museum, the market, and the Temples. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: We board for our three days cruise of the Greek islands.

Day 4: Rhodes (the third journey of St. Paul - Acts 21:1-2). Our first port of call. Optional visits to Lindos and St. Paul Bay.

Day 5 : Patmos / Kusadasi. We arrive at Patmos. Here St. John wrote the book of Revelation (Rev 1:9-11). Optional excursions to St. John Monastery and the cave where he lived. After lunch we dock at Kusadasi (Turkey) to start our excursion of the Seven Churches to whom St. John sent his messages of revelation. We start with Ephesos, the city which had a population of 250,000 during the first and second centuries AD (Acts 19:1-41). St. Paul visited here between 55-58 AD. His ministry included preaching, conversion and baptism. We visit the AdrianoTemple, the Roman baths, the library, the Odeon and the theater. Virgin Mary was entrusted to St. JohnÕs care after the crucifixion of Christ and moved with John to Ephesus. We will visit her house. We continue to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Philadelphia / Sardis. Today we visit two more of the Seven Churches. Philadelphia a pagan center (Rev 3:7-13) and Sardis with its immense synagogue and the temple of Artemis (Rev 3:1-6). We end the day in Izmir. (also known as Smyrna - another one of the Seven Churches). Dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Pergamon/Troy. After breakfast we proceed to Pergamon considered the most favorable of the Seven Churches (Rev 2:12-17). We visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Atheana, the library and the great theatre. We will also visit a therapy center. Continue to Canakkale and Troy, the famous old city of nine levels. The city is formed for the ÒIliadaÓ of Homer and the war of Troy with its famous Trojan horse. Dinner and overnight at Canakkale.

Day 8: Canakkale (Troy) / Trojan. After breakfast we depart toward Istanbul passing through the Dardanels. Upon arrival we reach our hotel. Afternoon free. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 9: Istanbul. After breakfast, Istanbul awaits. Also known as Byzantium and Constantinople, the city reflects two cultures: at one time, it was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and a site of Christianity. Seven Ecumenical councils were held in Turkey between the 3rd - 8th centuries, three of them in Istanbul. At another time it was the stronghold of the Ottoman Empire, embracing Islamic ideals. Our day of sightseeing will include visits to the famed Topkapi Palace, the St. Sophia (which for 1000 years was the largest Church in Christendom and now a museum), the Blue Mosque (so-named from its decorative blue-shaded tiles, glass and gemstones), the Church of St. Savior in Chora, and the Aqueducts of Valens. Dinner and our second overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 10 : Return to the USA. Transfer to the airport for our flight home or continue to the Holy Land.

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