Day 3     Kusadasi – Laodicea – Hierapolis -  Pamukkale
After breakfast we leave our hotel early in the morning and drive to Hierapolis but before we get here we stop at Laodicea Ad Lycum. The site of one of the Seven Churches addressed by St.John in the Book of Revelation. (Rev. 3:14- 22), Laodicea is on a low hill on the south bank of  the Lycus River ( Curuksu ). As a commercial center, it had a large Jewish community. For St. John in Revelation, the Christians of Laodicea were neither hot nor cold and because of their indifference he wanted to spew them out of his mouth. “ I know all your ways, you are neither hot or cold. How I wish you were either hot or cold. Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”   (Revelation 3:15-17)

St.John promised in “ the words of the Amen”  (Revelation 3:14) that for those who were sensitive enough to hear and respond to what was being said, the Spirit would join them in the great feast. “Here I stand knocking at the door; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sit down to supper with him and he with me“ (Revelation 3:20)

Then we will drive to Pamukkale (The Cotten Castle of  white travertine terraces), and Hierapolis ancient city where St.Philip was martyred. Recently Italian archeologists have discovered his Martyrium, an octagonal chamber forming a double cross surrounded by a square. St. Philip lived here after the Apostles scattered from  Jerusalem. Hierapolis is listed in the New Testament along with Laodicea as the center of  Epaphras’s work (Colossians 4:13). Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale. (B,L,D)

Day 4     Pamukkale -  Philadelphia - Sardis – Izmir (Smyrna)
After early breakfast departure from hotel and drive to Philadelphia. During Byzantine times Philadelphia was the seat of a Christian bishopric. Its significance in Christian history was because it congregations addressed by St.John in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 3:7-13). Although one of the Seven Churches, Philadelphia was the least distinguished; it was the only one about which St. John had no real criticism. He characterized it as having been given an open door. He told the Christians not to leave anyone take away their crowns and promised that those who were victorious would become pillars in God’s  temple. “Hold fast to what you have, and  let no  one rob you of your crown” (Revelation 3:11).

Then we will drive to Sardis, whose history dates back to 12th century BC, was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia. In the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:1-6), St. John stated that Sardis needed to  wake up. He complained that their acts did not live up to their reputation, that they did not finish what they started. But he  held out the hope those who were not polluted that they should have robes of  white (Revelation 3:5). White was the color then of righteousness and   immortality.

Then we will drive to Izmir ( Smyrna ) which was one of the Seven Church in St.John’sBook of Revelation (Rev. 2:8-11)as the place of the synagogue of Satan. St.John tellstheChristians that they are about to suffer for their faith, but  also says that those whoare faithful unto death will gain a crown of life. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,L,D) 

Day 5     Thyatira - Pergamum– Bursa
After breakfast we will drive to Thyatira  which is a small modern city today. The old Thyatira, the site of one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor ( Rev. 2:18-29 ). St.John’s Criticism ofThyatira in Revelation was related to the prophetess Jezebel. Whether she was  a real woman ofthat name or whether he intended her as a symbol of licentiousness, St. John saw the challengeto  Christianity which Thyatira represented as a moral decay among the members. To those whorefused to compromise with their ideals he promised “ the star of dawn” and “ authority over the nations”.

About forty years previous to the time that St. John wrote those words to the congregation inThyatira, St. Paul had met one of the merchants from there when he arrived in Philippi. This wason his second Journey. The merchant was Lydia, a woman dealing in expensive purple cloth. Under St.Paul’s influence she and her whole household became baptized Christians. Lydia sheinsisted that St. Paul and his companions Timothy and St. Luke should stay in her house inPhilippi (Acts 16:13-15) By the end of the 1st century here must have been a sizable Christian community for St. John to have chosen it as one of his seven churches.

Pergamum’s place in religious history is largely because of the paragraph addressed to its Christian believers by St. John in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 2:12-17). He characterized Pergamum as the place where Satan was enthroned.( Revelation 2:13 ).  
  
St. John saw a group hecalled the Nicolatinas as an additional threat to the believers. Who thesepeople were is not clearly known. ( Revelation 2:14-15 ) St. John condemned them for adultery andfor eating food that had been sacrificed to pagan gods. St. John also promised a white stone andhidden mannato those who repented of their false beliefs and immoral behavior (Revelation 2:16-17).  Drive to Bursa for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 6        Bursa – Nicea - Istanbul
After the breakfast, we leave Bursa behind usanddrive to Nicea. Nicea was thevenue for the first and the last Ecumenical Councils, meetings ofrepresentatives of all Christian churches.The firstEcumenical Council was held in Nicaea in 325. At the maincrossroads of Iznik is theChurch of St. Sophia which is museum now. The church was built in the 4th century and hasa mosaic floorwhich dates to the 6th century. All gates and wallsdate from the Byzantine times.This is the building in which the Seventh –and last– Ecumenical Councilwas held in   787. The Nicean Creedwhich is recited by many Christians as their belief, was first formulated by the bishops in Nicea in  AD 325.                          

The Nicean Creed
“I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father.…….”

In the 16th century ceramists in Nicea ( Iznik) created the most beautiful Turkish Tilesever madein Turkey. We will have some time to see uniqueNicean ( Iznik) Tiles before we drive to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,L,D)

Day 7       Istanbul Full Day City Tour
Following the breakfast we drive to the "Old City",  we will stop by the Hippodrome before proceeding to the Blue Mosque, so called because of the impressive Iznik (Nicea) blue tiles lining its walls.

Then we will go into the St. Sophia Church Museum. Following this stop, we will go to the Underground Cistern built by Justinian in 535. After lunch we will drive Chora Church Museum (The Church of Holy Savior) to see breathtaking frescoes and mosaics from 14th century. The church is a remarkable example of Byzantine art.
Dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 8       Istanbul Departure
Free till transfer to the airport. (B)