Turkey : To the pursuit of the Christianity's origin

 

SYMRNA / PERGAMON / THYATIRA / IZMIR One of the seven churhes was in Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11). Smyrna figures in John's book of Revelation as the place of the synagogue of Satan. John tells the Christian's that they are about the suffer for their faith, but he also says that those who are faithful unto death will a gain a crown of life. Of the early Christians, Polycarp, the forth bishop of Smyrna is known as one of the first Christian martyrs. In Pergamon, visit the Asclepeion, an ancient treatment complex. Then visit the Acropolis. The main difference of Acropolis of Pergamon than the others besides its religious functions, it had also cultural functions with its theater and second largest library of the ancient world. Pergamum is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. "The place where Satan has his altar" (Revelation 2,13) is believed to refer to the Great Altar of Zeus. After the adoption of Christianity the city became an important missionary center. It was an Episcopal see during the Byzantine period. Then drive to Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) to see the ruins of one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.

 

SARDIS/ PHILADELPHIA / LAODICEA -Proceed to Sardis, which was the Capital of Lydian Kingdom, where the largest Roman Synagogue was ever discovered. A beautiful marble court of a Roman Gymansium and remains of churches (Rev.3:1-6). Drive towards the "Brotherly Love" city. The church of Philadelphia (ALASEHIR) will always be remembered as the church which "kept the faith"(Rev. 3:7-13). Next proceed to Laodicea (Revelation 3:14; Colossians. 2:1, 4:13-16) one of the seven churches of Asia. Continue to Pamukkale

 

HIERAPOLIS / EPHESUS /THE HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY / BASILICA OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST In first visit Pamukkale with thermal spring water and dazzling white petrified lime cascades falling from a height of some 300-ft. Visit the ruins of Hierapolis Ancient City, which is listed in the New Testament. St. Philip was connected with the early church in Hierapolis. It was also the home Papias and Epicitus, early Christian writers. Then turn your sights towards east to Ephesus which was mentioned by St. John in Revelation (Rev.2:1-7).It is impressive archaeological site in Turkey. Visit the Odeon, The Marble Street where St. Paul walked and held daily discussions (Acts 19:9), The Temple of Artemis (Diana), The Celsus Library, The Temple of Hadrian and the Theatre,. St. Paul was able to continue speaking in the sysnagogue in Ephesus for three months before he withdrew his disciples and went to the Lecture Hall Tyrannus. There he lectured from eleven to four, during the hottest hours of the day, when the Hall was almost empty, but he kept lecturing for two years. Now comes the most holy visit of your tour: this is the pilgrimage. You will visit the House of the Virgin Mary where she lived her final days, which is now visited by over a hundred thousand pilgrims each year. St. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus. In 1967, Pope Paul VI celebrated mass here and also prayed in the Double Church of St. Mary in Ephesus where the Third Ecumenical Council summoned in 431. Here it was confirmed that the Virgin is the mother of Christ's human and divine natures. also visit the Basilica of St. John in the town of Selçuk where he was buried.