After breakfast we will Visit St. Sofia (exterior), which has been a cathedral, a mosque, a museum and now change back to mosque on 24 July 2020. Its mosaics, stained glass Windows & decorated domes create an atmosphere of breath taking beauty. Next, visit Basilica Cistern then touring the Blue Mosque, also known as Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, which boasts a unique feature of 6 minarets. View its glorious interiors and distinctive blue tiles. Next, view the only remains of Hippodrome of Constantinople, which consists 3 monumental columns and a fountain. This is where chariot races took place in the past. Next. visit Topkapi Palace, once the seat of the Ottoman Empire. Presently, it is a museum palace with a wide collection of porcelain, antiques, holy relics and other treasures.

Breakfast included

After early breakfast we transfer to the airport for a flight to Cukurova. Then depart to Tarsus known as the birth place of St. Paul born as “Saul of Tarsus” came from a devout Jewish family but was brought up in Jerusalem and became “Paul the Apostle” after his encounter with Christ.

The St.Paul’s Well and Saint Paul’s Church, considered Christian pilgrimage sites, are also located here in Tarsus and both are on UNESCO tentative list of World Heritage sites in Turkey. Saint Paul’s Church is also the second most important church after Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre (also called the Church of the Resurrection). On its ceiling are frescos of Jesus in the middle and Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on the two sides.

According to Acts 11:30:11:25, describes Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Drive to Antioch on the Orontes for overnight.

Breakfast & Dinner included

It was at Antioch on the Orontes that believers were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). Visit The Cave where they met in secret. Paul and Silas departed from here on the second missionary journey (Acts 15:35 – 36).**Silas (also Silvanus) was a prominent Jewish prophet and leader in the early Christian church, known as a missionary companion to the Apostle Paul, traveling with him to spread the Gospel, enduring imprisonment, and co-authoring New Testament letters. We will then travel to Cappadocia.

Breakfast & Dinner included

After breakfast we spend all day exploring the history and scenery of Cappadocia. First off, we’ll visit the gently folding volcanic rock formations and “fairy chimneys” of Goreme Open Air Museum with biblical scenes of frescoes. These rock formations are not only beautiful, but functional as well. Many early Christian communities lived and worshipped deep in the rocks and crags, leaving their frescoes and paintings to be marveled at centuries later. Other communities lived underground, and we’ll visit these dwellings too. To protect themselves from Roman persecution and marauding bandits, local people began to live in underground caves forming “cities” that reach a depth of up to 7 stories below the surface. We visit underground city of Kaymakli. In Avanos we’ll visit “The Potter’s Place: Gift Shop and Cultural Center” and have time for visiting local potter for a demonstration. Overnight Cappadocia.

Breakfast & Dinner included

We depart to Konya an ancient city in central Turkey once known as Iconium. The site of one of the first church councils and one of the missionary destinations of St. Paul’s (Acts 13-14 details St. Paul and Barnabas’s visits to Iconium, where they preached, made converts, faced division among Jews, and were threatened by a mob, causing them to flee. Despite its Islamic character, Konya preserves traces of its significant early Christian past, a testament to Paul’s foundational work in Asia Minor.)

Konya (Iconium) capital of the Seljuk Empire from 1150 to 1300 and home of Rumi (Mevlana) the Sufi saint who founded the Whirling Dervishes. Continue to Antioch Pisidia (also called Antioch-of-Pisidia) was a major Roman colony that was visited by St.Paul on his first Missionary Journey.

Although only 10% of Pisidian Antioch has been excavated, the ruins from the Roman period are noteworthy. We’ll see Septimus Severus’ triumphal gate, Augustus’ Temple, the Roman baths, a theater and a church dedicated to Paul.

Drive to Pamukkale visit the ancient city of Hierapolis (meaning “Sacred City,” was an ancient center for pagan cults until it was transformed into a Christian center in the first century. According to tradition, the Apostle Philip lived and was martyred in Hierapolis) and the thermal springs with calcium rich water creating shallow white basins and twisted stalagmites. Overnight Pamukkale.

Breakfast & Dinner included

We drive to Laodicea (meaning Justice of the People) Ad Lycum on the south bank of the Lycus River, one of the Seven Churches addressed by St. John in the Book of Revelation (**Rev.3:14-22) ** In his letter to the church of Laodicea, Jesus warned about the danger of self-sufficiency. Laodicea was a wealthy banking center and proud of her rich resources. In AD 60, the city was destroyed by an earthquake. It was likely the hot springs of Hierapolis in contrast to the cold mountain springs near Colossae that combined to bring application to the “lukewarm” Laodiceans. (Rev 3:14-22) In His letter to the church of Laodicea, Jesus warned about the danger of self-sufficiency. Laodicea was a wealthy banking center and proud of her rich resources. In AD 60, the city was destroyed by an earthquake.) This connection between the cities lies behind Paul’s reference to Hierapolis and Laodicea in his epistle to the Colossians (Col 4:13). Laodicea contains many acres of ruins to visit including a stadium and remnants of a sophisticated water system. Nearby Colossae is well-known throughout Christian circles as the receiver of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Today, the town has fallen into obscurity and nothing remains.

Continue visit Philadelphia, which means “brotherly love” (*Rev. 3:7-13) the seat of a Christian bishopric during Byzantine times, also referred to as the New Jerusalem. Next, we will depart for Sardis, one of the other cities of Revelation to see the remains of the temple of Artemis, later converted into a church.

Rev3:7-13 a message from Jesus to the church in Philadelphia, praising their faithfulness despite having little strength, promising an open door for ministry no one can shut, protection from future trials, and eternal rewards for overcoming, including being made a pillar in God’s temple with divine names written on them, urging them to hold fast to their faith as He is coming soon. Overnight Kusadasi.

Breakfast & Dinner included

We visit the House of Virgin Mary, where she is believed to have spent her last years. We will also visit the Tomb and Basilicia of St John, the last surviving disciple of Jesus who is said to have lived in Ephesus during his final years along with Jesus Mother Mary. Finally, we will see the remaining pillars one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. Temple of Artemis. Next vısıt Ephesus, one of the world’s most outstanding archaeological sites. You will find awesome structures such as the Library of Celsius, Hadrian Temple, Marble Street and Agora. Overnight Kusadasi.

Breakfast & Dinner included

Early departure for Bergama **(ancient Pergamum), a significant city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), wasn’t a primary focus of St. Paul’s direct ministry like Ephesus but it’s deeply connected through biblical geography and the Seven Churches of Revelation, receiving a crucial letter from Jesus (Revelation 2:12-17) where Paul’s legacy of faith and early Christianity was established, making it a key stop on Christian pilgrimage tours. Visit the ruins of Acropolis, an architectural masterpiece that is perched on the city’s highest point. The fascinating sites here include the Altar of Zeus to you. Then, transfer to Istanbul via autobahn (highway). Overnight and farewell dinner in Istanbul.

Breakfast & Dinner included

According to the schedule of your return flight you will be taken to the airport of Istanbul leaving with great memories from your Steps of Paul trip.