Here are the basics of the blurb for our next holy land pilgrimage. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Monday, April 19 – Saturday,
May 1, 2010
Churches carved into the
rock…ancient cities where the Gospel was first proclaimed…the birthplace of the
Creeds of the Church…Roman and Byzantine ruins…Greek islands…sandy beaches…one
of the friendliest and most interesting cultures in Asia…
All this and more can be
found on our pilgrimage to modern-day Turkey, ancient Asia Minor, and the Greek
island of Patmos. Turkey was the site of much of Saint Paul’s work of
evangelism, the home of Early Church theologians, and the site of the earliest
ecumenical councils of the Church. Patmos was the home to St John the Divine,
author of the last book of the New Testament, and the place where his
Revelation was written. Both are tremendous places of pilgrimage for Christians
today.
Please consider joining us
for a pilgrimage in the footsteps of Saint Paul next spring. The trip will be
led by the Rev. Sally French and the Rev. Joe Walker. We will be journeying across Turkey, from Cappadocia to
Ephesus, the Mediterranean Coast, the Greek island of Patmos, and Istanbul.
Itinerary:
Monday, April 19, 2010:
Depart North America for Turkey.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010:
Arrive Turkey. Air and bus transfers to Goreme, the main site in the region of
Cappadocia. Relax, dinner and overnight in our hotel.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010: We
will begin our pilgrimage in Cappadocia, the heart of the early church, and a
site of spectacular ruins and history. Today we will visit the open-air
archaeological park to see the ancient churches carved into the rock, to
examine the ancient fresco paintings, and to discuss and learn about the
development of Christian theology, including the creeds of the Church.
Thursday, April 22, 2010: Our
tour of the Cappadocia region continues with a visit to one of the great underground
cities of the region, a place of refuge for early Christians fleeing
persecution. Then, we drive on to modern-day Konya, home of the ‘whirling
dervishes’. We will visit their centre and the local museum. We will end the
day in the town of Yalvac, ancient Antioch of Psidia.
Friday, April 23, 2010:
Today, we begin by touring the ruins of ancient Antioch of Psidia, where Saint
Paul began to spread the Gospel to the wider world (Acts 13). From there, we
continue on to the ancient spa town of Heliopolis, modern-day Pammukale, and a
UNESCO world heritage site. On the way, we will stop and visit ancient Colossae
and Laodicea, famous from the Letter to the Colossians and the Book of
Revelation. We will have free time today to visit the spa and Turkish baths and
pools at our hotel.
Saturday, April 24, 2010: Our
tour of some of the “seven churches” of the Book of Revelation (Rev 3) takes us
to the ruins of Sardis, including some spectacular Roman buildings, a temple
dedicated to Artemis, an ancient Synagogue and a Byzantine church. We will
continue on towards the Mediterranean coast and spend the night in the
modern-day resort town of Kusadasi, close to the ancient city of Ephesus.
Sunday, April 25, 2010: Visit
Ephesus, one of the greatest ruins of the ancient Roman world, and a
significant site for Saint Paul. In addition to an extensive tour of the
ancient city, we will also be visiting the Basilica of Saint John and the ruins
of the Temple of Artemis of the Ephesians, one of the ‘seven wonders of the
ancient world’.
Monday, April 26, 2010: Today
we travel to the Greek island of Patmos by private boat from Kusadasi, Turkey.
There, we will visit the Monastery of Saint John and the Cave of the Apocalypse
where the revelations to John took place (Rev 1:9-10). We will also enjoy lunch
and free time in the Greek harbor town of Skala.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010: From
Ephesus, we will continue northward to Bergama, ancient Pergamum. There, we
will see the Acropolis, the Askelepion (Temple of Healing), and other ancient
temples. Following our visit, we will drive on to Bursa, Turkey’s fourth
largest city, known for its parks and silk production.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010:
After a morning tour of Bursa, we continue on to Iznik, formerly Nicaea, site
of the first ecumenical council of the Church in 325, and the place where the
Nicene Creed began to be written. There, we will visit the site of the ancient
palace complex (where the Council of Nicaea was held) and the ruins of the
Cathedral of Holy Wisdom. From Iznik, we journey to Istanbul. We will enter the
city along the Bosphorus, with a boat cruise past the city’s many minarets.
Thursday, April 29, 2010:
Tour Istanbul: Our day begins with a walking tour of the Blue Mosque, the
Hippodrome, and the famous Hagia Sophia, followed by an afternoon visit to the
Chora Church. We will finish our day with some free time in the Istanbul, a
trip to the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar, and a relaxing evening to enjoy the
city. Dinner today is on your own.
Friday, April 30, 2010: Free
day in Istanbul. Walk through the ancient streets, visit the Topkapi palace or
other sites, shop and relax. In the evening, we will gather together for a
final celebratory meal, a traditional Turkish feast. Lunch today is on your
own.
Saturday, May 1, 2010:
Departure. Travel from Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport to North
America on our return home.
Accommodations and Meals:
Your pilgrimage fees include
all accommodations and most meals. The accommodations will all be 4 or 5 star,
depending on availability. The only exception to this is in the town of Yalvac
(Antioch of Psidia), where the best hotel in the region is 3-star. All meals are included, except dinner
on April 29 and lunch on April 30. This is to give you some flexibility with
your free time, and to give you the option of getting to know Istanbul and to
make your own decisions regarding what, where, and when you eat. On other days,
we will be traveling together as a
Registration, Fees, and other
information:
The total cost for the
pilgrimage is $5350.00 Canadian. This includes all travel (flights, bus, boat,
etc), accommodations, meals as described, all admissions and guiding costs. It
does not include medical insurance, local tips, travel visas (required for both
Turkey and Greece upon entry), drinks and personal expenses. For more details,
please see the Registration form. It is possible to arrange for departures from
other locations, please ask if you are interested in joining us.
We strive to provide you with
both a first-class travel experience and a positive experience of Christian
pilgrimage. Throughout our time together, there will be opportunities for
worship, for prayer and reflection, and for spiritual direction. This is not a
“package tour” – it is a spiritual journey with fellow Christians, following
Saint Paul and those who went before us in the earliest days of the Church. We
believe that seeing the lands of the bible is truly a life-changing experience
and we are excited about the possibility of sharing them with you. Although
your leaders are both Anglican clergy, we welcome people of all Christian
backgrounds and we would be happy to answer any questions you might have. We wish you every blessing as you
discern and prepare for pilgrimage, and we look forward to journeying with you
in the footsteps of Saint Paul.
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