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DAY 1 – Saturday 18th Oct.
LONDON TO IZMIR
Meet for check-in at GATWICK airport where after normal formalities, board the flight direct to Izmir in Turkey. On arrival, travel by private coach to the hotel for room allocation and the evening meal.
Dinner & Overnight in MANISA
DAY 2 – Sunday 19th Oct.
SMYRNA/PERGAMON
Smyrna
We travel back to Izmir and visit the old city region.
As a Roman commercial centre and port on the Aegean Sea, the city was a faithful ally of Rome. The church of St Polycarp reminds the visitor that Polycarp, an early Bishop and student of St John, was martyred in the city in 155 AD. His famous speech proclaiming his dedication to Jesus is recalled here.
Revelation 2:8-11 “I know about your suffering and poverty – but you are rich!… Remain faithful”
Pergamon
Then north on the Aegean coast to visit this ancient city.
Considered to be the most spectacular Hellenistic city of Asia Minor, because of its town planning. The city lost its great Library to Alexandria when Mark Antony gave 200,000 scrolls to Cleopatra as a wedding present. We will visit the impressive acropolis, the steepest theatre in the world, the Roman Aesculapius, the remains of the library and other archaeological sites.
Revelation 2:12-17 – “I know you live in the city where that great stone of Satan is located, and yet you have remained faithful to me.”
Dinner and Overnight in MANISA
DAY 3 – Monday 20th Oct.
THYATIRA/SARDIS
Thyatira
We travel north east to Thyatrira.
Once a very wealthy city. The trade guilds that flourished there included wool and other textile workers, craftsmen in leather and bronze, dyers (purple), bakers, potters and slave dealers. Lydia whom Paul baptised (Acts 16:14) was a ‘seller of purple’ in Philippi.
The Archbishop of Thyateira (Thyatira) resides in London and has pastoral responsibility for the Greek Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Malta.
Revelation 2:18-29 – “I know all the things you do – your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. But…”
Sardis
Then south to the ancient city of Sardis.
The city was named after the semi-precious stone which is orange-brown but reflects deep red when heated. Around 334 BC Sardis was conquered by Alexander the Great and the city surrendered without a fight. After taking power, Alexander restored earlier Lydian customs and laws. It was an economic centre of the wool industry.
Revelation 3:1-6 – “Now wake up!… Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again… All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the book of life.”
Dinner and Overnight in MANISA
DAY 4 – Tuesday 21st Oct.
PHILADELPHIA/HIERAPOLIS
Philadelphia
Today we journey South East to Philadelphia, then on to Hierapolis.
Located along the Cogamus river valley. The valley road was the lifeline to the east and the harbours of the Aegean to the west. According to Pliny the Elder (Roman Author), Philadelphia was in the administrative district of Sardis. Philadelphia was an independent neutral city under the influence of the Latin Knights of Rhodes.
Revelation 3:7-13 – “I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”
Hierapolis The Sacred City
The hot springs have been used as a spa since at least the 2nd century BC with many patrons retiring or dying there as evidenced by the large necropolis filled with tombs including that of Philip the Apostle. Hierapolis in biblical times was part of the tri-city area of Laodicea, Colossae and Hierapolis. Paul refers to these in his epistle to the Colossians 4:12-13.
Pamukkale
This is next to Hierapolis and we will visit the ‘Cotton castles’, Pamukkale in Turkish, which have pillow shaped terraces. Created by carbonate mineral left by the flowing of thermal spring water, these are accessed from the modern local hotels. There will be time to relax and take a dip in the Cleopatra antique pools.
Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale
DAY 5 – Wednesday 22nd Oct.
LAODICEA/COLOSSAE
Laodicea
Journeying south to nearby Laodicea.
With its large Jewish community the city also became an early centre for Christianity. This vast city is breathtaking and is sure to leave an impression. Evidence remains of clay pipes which carried water from an aqueduct several kilometres away at the Baspinar spring in Denizli. By the time the water reached the city it was ‘lukewarm’.
Revelation 3:14-22 – “…you are neither hot nor cold… Buy gold from me – gold purified by fire. Then you will be rich…. Look here I stand at the door and knock..”
Colossae
The town was known for its fusion of religious influences including an unorthodox cult which worshipped angels. Also known for flocks of sheep, and the wool of Colossae gave its name to the colour ‘colossinus’ (purple). Paul wrote his epistle to the Christians here, and Philemon lived in the city.
Colossians 1-2 – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him…”
We travel west through the Lycus River valley to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 6 – Thursday 23rd Oct.
LEISURE/KUSADASI
A free day to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities, stroll along the sea front, perhaps a swim in the sea, or do some shopping.
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi
Day 7 – Friday 24th Oct.
MIGHTY EPHESUS/MILETUS
Ephesus
We spend the morning in perhaps one of the greatest cities of antiquity, famous for the Temple of Artemis, designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The library of Celsus contained 12,000 scrolls. The theatre where St. Paul spoke, seats 25,000 people. Ephesus was the site of several 5th-century Christian Councils.
Revelation 2:1-7 – “I have seen your hard work and patient endurance…. Turn back to me, your first love… Everyone who is victorious will eat from the tree of life…”
Miletus
This former major port became one of the twelve Ionian city-states of Asia Minor, but the harbour was silting up and its economy was in decline. Paul’s successful three-year ministry in nearby Ephesus resulted in the evangelisation of the entire province of Asia. It was at Miletus that Paul knelt and prayed with the elders of Ephesus before sailing on his way to Jerusalem. It is a fitting final visit before we depart the following day.
Acts 20:17-38 – “When [Paul] had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. They wept aloud as they embraced him in farewell…”
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 8 – Saturday 25th Oct.
IZMIR/LONDON
THE MORNING
A sail in the bay of Kusadasi.
Lunch break in Kusadasi –
THE AFTERNOON
Travel to Izmir city for some free time on the city shoreline.
On to Izmir airport for the evening EasyJet flight to London GATWICK.