PILGRIMAGE IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL & THE EARLY CHURCH

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Tarsus (Acts 9:11, 30; 11:25; 22:3), the birthplace of St. Paul. Explore the deep historical roots where Barnabas sought out Paul to bring him to Antioch. Visit St. Paul's Well, the Church of St. Paul—where we celebrate the Opening Mass of the Pilgrimage—and Cleopatra's Gate, which Cleopatra famously passed through to meet Mark Antony in 41 BC. Tarsus was home to one of the earliest Christian communities in Asia Minor. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue driving across the plains to Konya, the Biblical city of Iconium (Acts 13:51; 14:1-21), where St. Paul preached during his First Missionary Journey. Visit the Mevlana Tekke Museum, the historic sanctuary of the Whirling Dervishes. Dinner and overnight at Konya hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive toward Yalvac to visit Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14-52), a pivotal site where Paul and Barnabas boldly proclaimed the Gospel to the Gentiles, triggering a major turning point in early Church history. Lunch at a local restaurant. Tour the extensive archaeological remains, including the grand theater and the foundations of the early Christian basilica built over the ancient synagogue. Continue driving to the thermal valley of Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning excursion to the ancient site of Colossae. Visit the archaeological mound (tell), the sole visible remnant of this famous Phrygian city described by Xenophon, which later became a prosperous episcopal see. Spiritual reflection on Paul's Letter to the Colossians (Col 4:12-16) and his Epistle to Philemon. Lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed to Hierapolis, where Christian tradition records the crucifixion of St. Philip the Apostle in 87 AD. Although Paul did not directly visit or establish the churches of Laodicea, Colossae, and Hierapolis, they were the vibrant fruits of his long missionary stay in Ephesus (Acts 19:10; Col 4:13). If permitted, we ascend via local minibuses to celebrate Mass at the Martyrium of St. Philip. Conclude the day by walking through the stunning natural white travertine terraces of Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit to the extensively excavated ruins of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22), one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, famously rebuked for being spiritually lukewarm. Explore its monumental streets, theaters, and ancient church structures. Proceed to Aphrodisias, one of the most stunning Greco-Roman cities in Turkey, dedicated to Aphrodite. Tour its magnificent remains: the Temple of Aphrodite, the exceptionally well-preserved Stadium, the Odeon, and the ancient Theater. Lunch at a local restaurant. Drive west toward the Aegean coast to reach the resort town of Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Priene, an ancient Ionian city beautifully situated on a hillside, symbolized by the iconic five remaining columns of the Temple of Athena. Continue to Didyma to visit the colossal Temple of Apollo, renowned as one of the most magnificent architectural wonders of the ancient world. Lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed to Miletus, a premier maritime city of antiquity. Here, on his final journey toward Jerusalem, St. Paul bypassed Ephesus but summoned the Ephesian elders to the shore to deliver his deeply emotional farewell discourse (Acts 20:17-35). Visit the grand theater that held 15,000 spectators and the circular harbor podium. If authorized by local management, we celebrate an Outdoor Mass at Miletus. Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day dedicated to Ephesus (Acts 19; Revelation 2:1-7), the first of the Seven Churches of Revelation, praised for its endurance but warned for losing its 'first love.' Ephesus was a massive Roman metropolis where Paul lived and taught for over two years, and where Church tradition states the Apostle John spent his final years accompanied by the Virgin Mary. Explore the spectacular ruins: the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the marble-paved Arcadian Way, and the majestic Great Theater—site of the famous silversmiths' riot against Paul ('Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'). Meditate at the ruins of the Double Church of the Council (431 AD). Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Basilica of St. John, built by Justinian over the traditional tomb of the Apostle. See the Cave of the Seven Sleepers and, if schedule allows, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. Drive up Mt. Koressos to visit Meryemana (The House of the Virgin Mary), a sacred Vatican-recognized shrine where Mary spent her final years under the care of John (John 19:26-27). Meet with a local priest and celebrate Holy Mass in the Chapel of Mary. Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive north to Izmir, ancient Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11), the faithful church urged by St. John to 'remain faithful unto death.' Smyrna is home to a very old Christian heritage; its early Bishop Polycarp, a direct disciple of John, was martyred here in 156 AD. Visit the historic St. Polycarp Church, the oldest active place of worship in Izmir and an important Catholic sanctuary. Meet with Father Gabriel Ferone (French priest of Notre-Dame de Lourdes in Goztepe, if schedule permits) and celebrate the Sending Mass of the Pilgrimage. Lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) for your domestic flight on Turkish Airlines directly to Istanbul. Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST). Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Istanbul hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Start the day by visiting the exceptional Church of St. Saviour in Chora (Kariye), one of the world's most stunning monuments of Byzantine art, housing pristine 14th-century biblical frescoes and mosaics illustrating scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the colorful, historic streets of Phanar (Fener) and Balat, UNESCO World Heritage neighborhoods rich in history, filled with steep cobblestone alleys and old Ottoman houses. Visit St. George's Cathedral at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the spiritual center for hundreds of millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide, where Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I presides. Lunch at a local restaurant. Depart from Eminonu for a delightful 50-minute public boat cruise along the Marmara sea , and the iconic Maiden's Tower. Disembark on the Asian side to explore the vibrant, aromatic food markets of Kadikoy (ancient Chalcedon). Return by public ferry to the European shore at Sirkeci, and return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Istanbul hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a comprehensive walking tour through the monumental heart of ancient Stambul. Visit the famous Topkapi Palace Museum (Harem section included), the ancient imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans commanding spectacular views of the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. Lunch at a local restaurant. Discover the majestic Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), famous for its elegant six minarets and stunning interior decorated with over 20,000 blue Iznik tiles. Tour the breathtaking Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque (Aya Sofya), originally constructed as a grand Byzantine cathedral between 532 and 537 AD under Emperor Justinian, an absolute wonder of world architecture decorated with rare marbles and remnants of ancient Christian mosaics. Conclude the day at the historical Ancient Hippodrome Square, the center of Roman and Byzantine public life, to view the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the German Fountain. Return to the hotel and Dinner and overnight at Istanbul hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Travel by private coach to visit the magnificent Suleymaniye Mosque, the architectural masterpiece built by the great Sinan between 1550 and 1557 for Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, standing proudly on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn. Next, stroll through the vibrant and exotic aisles of the historical Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Market), filled with arrays of traditional spices, Turkish delights, nuts, and local delicacies. Departure to the airport for your flight to home. End of pilgrimage services.