Day 1: Monday, 25 April
DEPART TORONTO
Your departure flight is Air France 359 departing Toronto at 7:15 PM. Please be at the departure gate one hour before departure time. You have a connecting flight in Paris for Istanbul. For all flights, see Flights.

Day 2: Tuesday, 26 April
ARRIVE ISTANBUL
Arrival time in Istanbul is 2:25 pm. After Turkish customs we have a 1-hour bus transfer from the airport to our hotel. After check-in we will have an Orientation meeting. Remainder of day is free time. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. For a complete list of all hotels and important phone numbers, see Hotels.

Day 3: Wednesday, 27 April
ISTANBUL: BLUE MOSQUE – HAGIA SOPHIA – ARCHAEOLOGIACL MUSEUM – BOSPHORUS CRUISE
We depart at 8:00 am for the famed Blue Mosque. This mosque was built in the early 1600s AD. Its cupola is supported by four massive columns and its exterior graced by six towering minarets. This mosque once served as the traditional starting point for the Muslim religious pilgrimage to Mecca. Next is the Hagai Sophia (“Sacred Wisdom”) the most renowned Byzantine church in Istanbul. First commissioned by Constantine in 325 AD, this church served as the architectural prototype for many Byzantine churches throughout the Empire. Adapted as a mosque in the 15th century AD, its gilded mosaics were plastered over. Restoration has continued for centuries bringing to light the original glory of earlier church art. We continue to the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Renowned for its many artefacts from the Levant and the Holy Land, after a preview explanation you will be given free time to explore the public areas of the museum. In addition to the main archaeological museum, a visit to the Museum of the Ancient Orient is on order. We will meet at a designated place and time. After lunch we will journey to Istanbul’s waterfront for a 2-hour boating tour of Istanbul’s natural waterway – the Bosphorus, a 20-mile long but narrow body of water that separates the continents of Europe and Asia. Along its shores one continent fortified itself against the other. Today its shores and cliffs present a grand mixture of old and new architecture reflected in citadels, palaces, villas, mosques, and cathedrals. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4: Thursday, 28 April
ISTANBUL: CHORA CHURCH – GRAND BAZAAR – FLIGHT TO ADANA – BUS TO ANTIOCH
We depart at 8:00 am for a visit to the 14th century AD Byzantine Chora Church. This church, along with its grand mosaics and frescos, has been restored and illustrate the art and faith of the ancient Byzantine community. We then venture into the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Noted for its character, shops and eastern foods, here you are given free time to explore and experience an eastern culture up close and personal. We will designate a time and place to meet and then travel to the Istanbul airport to take our afternoon flight to Adana (ancient Tarsus). We have a 1.5 hour flight to Adana followed by a 3 hour drive to modern Antakya (modern Hatay; ancient Antioch). We have a late arrival in Antakya; perhaps as late as 11:00 pm (!). Prepare an evening snack for the long drive from the airport to Antakya. Dinner arrangements are unscheduled and dependent upon flight and bus travel demands. Overnight in Antakya.

Day 5: Friday, 29 April
ANTIOCH – SELEUCIA
We depart the hotel at 8:00 am for excursions in ancient Antioch and Seleucia. Antioch is the locale of the early Jewish believers that were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Tradition has it that Peter was the first to establish a church in Antioch. This is based on two references (Acts 9:32 and Gal. 2:11). The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to Antioch and he was welcomed by an enthusiastic and growing Christian community and home-church. Barnabas requested that Paul (Saul of Tarsus) join him in Antioch. They worked together in Antioch for some time before starting off on what has become known as Paul’s First Missionary Journey. Antioch became the third most important bishopric (after Jerusalem and Rome) in the developing church. Sites to be visited in ancient Antioch include the Church of Saint Peter having its historical origins from the time of the Crusaders. Of particular interest is the Hatay Museum. Here are collected some of the finest Greco-Roman-Byzantine floor mosaic anywhere in the world. Other items in the museum and of equal interest are from the much earlier Mitanni, Assyrian, Hittite, and post-Hittite periods (16-15 centuries BC). We bus to Seleucia (the ancient port of Antioch) mentioned in Acts 13:4 as the point of departure for Paul and Barnabas. Our exploration continues with visits to the Temple to Zeus and the Titus Tunnels. We conclude the day with a 3 hour bus journey to modern Adana (ancient Tarsus) where we will have dinner and overnight. Hotel arrival time in Adana is approximately 7:00 pm.

Day 6: Saturday, 30 April
TARSUS – ROMAN ROAD – CILICIAN GATES – (DERBE) – LYSTRA – ICONIUM
We depart at 8:00 am for a bus tour of ancient Tarsus — the hometown of the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:11, 21:23). Unfortunately, there is little that remains of this important biblical period city. A gate from the late Roman period is known as St. Paul’s’ Gate or Cleopatra’s Gate but it would appear to post-date Paul and Cleopatra. Elements of a Roman Hippodrome and Odeon are scattered among the ruins, rubble and foundations of more modern edifices. A portion of the Roman Road is to be found in central Tarsus. We leave ancient Tarsus following a very historic roadway. Outside of Tarsus we visit another portion of the ancient Roman Road that led travellers northward. This northern route eventually had to traverse the Taurus Mountains north of the city. A narrow topographical pass through this range of mountains is known historically as the Cilician Gates. Paul certainly would have walked this northern Roman Road and passed through this mountainous pass during his Second and Third Missionary Journeys. Others of note passing through this “gate” would include the Persian King Cyrus and his army as they marched westward in conquest, and later, Alexander the Great as he and his army marched eastward in conquest. As we travel northwest we are travelling in the reverse order of Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 14:1-28), but in sequential order according to his Second (Acts 16:1) and Third (Acts 18:22; implied) journeys. On his journeys Paul established and then revisited three regional churches: Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. There are no archaeological remain to be seen at the unexcavated tell of Derbe so we will note its vicinity and continue on to Lystra where modest remains are to be found and where we can study Paul’s missionary activities in this region. During the First Missionary Journey to Lystra, and after the healing of a crippled man, the towns-people attempted to worship Paul and Barnabas as the gods Hermes and Zeus (Acts 14:11-13). Paul rejected such theological notions and the inhabitants of Lystra stoned him in retribution and left him for dead. Paul recovered and continued his journey to Derbe. After some exploration of the site we have a brief journey to Iconium (modern Konya), which is recognized as one of the oldest cities in Anatolia. During the 12th century the Seljuks made it their capital and much fine architecture from that era remains. Mevlana, mystic founder of the Whirling Dervishes, lived in Konya during the 13th century and a splendid and much-revered shrine was built over his tomb. Time permitting, in the vicinity of ancient Iconium we will visit the Elena Church in the district of Sille Aya. Here, Helena, the mother of Constantine stopped in 327 AD and funded the construction of a basilica church while en route and on pilgrimage to Jerusalem (where she funded two additional basilicas and a third basilica in Bethlehem). Dinner and overnight will be in modern Konya.

Day 7: Sunday, 1 May
ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA – SAGALASSOS
We will devote time for Sunday worship, but the time and locale are yet to be determined. Having recently visited the locales of three NT fellowships established by Paul and Barnabas, we turn our attention to the all important biblical site of Antioch of Pisidia (modern Yalvac). The city of Antioch (Pisidia) has a rather noble Greek and Roman heritage. In 25 BC is became a Roman colony and housed veterans of the V and VII Roman Legions. It became a very important regional, commercial, and military city of Roman nobility. Paul visited Antioch three times (Acts 13:13-52; 16:1-6; 18:23). On the last two occasions Antioch is not named but a visit may be presumed. Here Paul preached in the Synagogue and his discourses focused on Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Paul’s messages drew large crowds and the turnouts caused great concern among the Synagogue rulers. Roman women of the city, noted as “God-fearers” – that is, non-Jews practicing the Jewish faith – offered Paul support. Our visit to Antioch (Pisidia) will include exploration of the Acropolis, Cardo, Theater, a Temple to Augustus, the Sergius Paulus Inscription (cf. Acts 13:4-12) and an Aqueduct. A visit to nearby Sagalassos and the Burdur Museum (if open) will conclude our study of Antioch of Pisidia. We now journey southward to the coastal sea port city of modern Antalya (ancient port city of Attalia) for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Monday, 2 May
ANTALYA – ATTALIA – PERGA – ASPENDOS
We depart the hotel at 8:00 am for Hadrian’s Gate. Unfortunately the Antalya Museum is closed on Mondays, so it is onward to Perga, the port of embarkation for Paul, Barnabas and John Mark upon arrival by ship from Cyprus (Acts 13:13). It was here that John Mark separated himself from Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. In Perga a number of features draw our attention, including the City Gates and Stadium. We finish today’s study at Aspendos where the best preserved Roman Theater in all the world is to be found. We return to Antalya for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Tuesday, 3 May
PHASELIS – MYRA ( DEMRE) – ANDRIACE
Today is a continuation of coastal sites. We depart at 8:00 am for Phaselis. Located 27 miles south of Attalia, Phaselis boasted three shipping harbors in antiquity. The seafaring importance of Phaselis is demonstrated by its impressive ruins. Remains of interest include an Aqueduct, Triple City Gate, Baths and a well preserved commercial Main Street (Cardo). Continuing along the coast we come to Myra (Demre). Myra was the inland city and Andriace served as its port in antiquity. It was here that Paul and Luke, along with Aristarchus, changed ships on their way to Rome in about 60 AD (Acts 27:5). In Myra we will visit the 11th century Church of Saint Nicholas, the Roman Theater, and the Necropolis of Rock Cut Tombs in the cliffs above the Theater. One rock cut tomb, known as the Painted Tomb, preserves scenes of a family engaged in various activities. The Harbor of Andriace is noted in antiquity as a port of transit for people (as passengers) and the transit of grain. Of special interest for us is a large Granary built by Hadrian (early 2nd century AD). Its size is impressive, encompassing just over 22,000 sq. ft. Dinner and overnight in the coastal city of Kalkan.

Day 10: Wednesday, 4 May
PATARA – XANTHUS – LETOON
We depart at 8:00 am. These three Lycian cities are found where the Xanthus River meets the Aegean. Patara, renowned in ancient times for its fortune-telling Oracle, was the principal Port for the region of Lycia and the city of Xanthus. Letoon is noted for its Temples and mythological heroes. All three have customary monumental Hellenistic and Roman ruins of interest. Patara is mention in Paul’s Third Missionary Journey as a port-of-call where he and Luke changed to a larger ship to make the open water sail to Tyre and then on to Ptolemais and Caesarea. Paul wanted to return to Jerusalem in time for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). Of interest at Patara is another Granary of Hadrian, a Theater, a Necropolis, and a triple-arched City Gate. The port of Patara, like the ports of Tarsus and Ephesus, eventually silted up and ended the city’s importance as a harbor. Xanthus has an impressive Amphitheater. We leave the southern coastal area and drive inland to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Thursday, 5 May
HIERAPOLIS – COLOSSAE – LAODICEA
At 8:00 am we travel to nearby Hierapolis, a city founded during the 2nd century BC, mentioned briefly in Colossians 3:13 along with Laodicea, and noted for its Hot Springs and extensive Necropolis (burial grounds). Tradition connects Philip with this city. After lunch we visit Colossae. Although Paul himself probably did not visit Colossae, he challenged the city to keep the truth of the Gospel pure, not falling victim to the heresy of a syncretism of Judaism with pagan worship. No doubt Paul received knowledge of the church at Colossae from his friend Onesimus – the slave of Philemon, a resident of Colossae – and from Epaphras, a fellow prisoner (in Rome or Caesarea). Unexcavated, the site is rarely visited although some surface remains are noticeable, including the cavea of a theater, and some walls of a Citadel atop the Acropolis. We continue to the site of Laodicea, the seventh church chastised in Revelation for being neither “hot” nor “cold” in matters of their faith, but “lukewarm” (3:14-22). We will see evidence of Laodicea’s greatness as we visit an ancient Aqueduct, a related Water Tower, a large Stadium, and a well preserved Cardo. We return to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Friday, 6 May
APHORODISIAS – EPHESUS – IZMIR
We depart at 8:00 am for ancient Aphorodisias, a city dedicated to Aphorodite, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility (motherhood), equated with the Assyrian goddess Ishtar and the Persian goddess Astarte. The city has numerous restored buildings for our architectural benefit. The ancient Temple to Aphorodite was converted into a Christian Basilica in the 5th century AD. Another monumental building dedicated to Aphrodotie is the Sepasteion, were Roman Emperors were also worshiped, including Octavian, Tiberius, and Nero. The intersection of two major streets is crowned with the restored Tetrapylon. After a Museum visit and lunch we journey on to Ephesus, perhaps the most impressive of Turkey’s Hellenistic-Roman-Byzantine sites. Paul spent time here at the close of his Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:18-22) and almost three years here during his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 19:1-20). After his death in Rome it was the Apostle John who took over Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. In Revelation 2:1-7 Ephesus is the first of the seven churches in Asia Minor to receive spiritual admonishment. Here met the Third Ecumenical Council in 431 AD. Restored architectural structures abound; too many to describe. Of special interest to our visit are the Roman Baths (1st century AD), the Temple to Emperor Domitian (1st century AD), and the Temple of Hadrian (1st century AD). We continue to the Public Toilets and the Library (2nd century AD). Carved into the steps of the Library we find a “Menorah” perhaps offering a directional signal to the yet undiscovered Synagogue of the city. Adjacent to the Library is found a monumental Triple Arch Gate leading into the Agora. The gate was consecrated to Augustus Caesar in 3 or 4 BC. We make our way along the street known as the “Marble Way” ending up at a 25,000 seat Theater. From the Theatre the “Arcadian Way” leads to the ancient harbor. You will be given free time and a designated time and place to meet the bus for our departure. Exiting Ephesus, we make our way to modern Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Day 13: Saturday, 7 May
DEPARTURE DAY
We depart the hotel at a most unreasonable hour – 3:30 AM for our bus ride to the Izmir airport where we will take the 5:10 am flight to Istanbul. Flight time is 1 hour. We connect in Istanbul for the return flight to Toronto. For all flights, see Flights.