PIONEER CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST PRESENTS THE 7 CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES AND ISTANBUL MARCH 15 THROUGH MARCH 25, 2019 THEATER AT EPHESUS WHERE ST. PAUL PREACHED HARBOR CHURCH AT EPHESUS CHURCH AT SARDIS RUINS AT LAODICEA Join your host Pastor Phil Konz on a comprehensive visit to the 7 Holy Churches from the Book of Revelations. You will visit the first Synagogue built outside the Holy Land at Sardis, St. Sophia Church of the Holy Wisdom and the 11th century Church of Our Savior in Istanbul. Visits are planned to the Greco Roman sites of Ephesus, Pergamon, Hierapolis and Asklepion. Accommodations will be in the Izmir Hilton, Richmond Hotel with warm thermal pools and the Arcadia Blue Hotel in Istanbul in the center of the Old City. Time is planned for exploring, shopping and dining in Izmir and Istanbul. Your tour escort will be Katie Meyer, owner of Meyer Travel Group, and instructor at USD. Katie holds an M.A. in Art History and has over 25 years’ experience leading Architectural and Religious Tours to Turkey. Katie’s experience and education will present a unique perspective to your visit to Turkey. Price includes: Documents: US Passport 4 Nights Arcadia Hotel Istanbul including breakfast, Farewell Dinner 4 Nights Izmir Hilton Hotel 5 Star including breakfast, 3 Dinners 1 Night Richmond Thermal Hotel breakfast and Dinner Supplementary Costs: Wine Tasting at the “Arkas La Winery”, Torbli Turkey with Cheese and Charcuterie Plate $20 US Visa for US Citizens obtained on line Entrance fees outlined in itinerary Personal expenses Full Guidance throughout the tour with licensed Turkish Guide, tour escort Lunches and Dinners not mentioned in itinerary International flights to Turkey on Turkish Airlines from SFO Travel Insurance Contact Katie 2 Domestic flights within Turkey TOUR COST: $ 2,900.00 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: single room traveler) $450.00 All cancellations must be in writing. Cancellations received between the date of booking and 75 days prior to commencement of tour will result in the loss of the deposit. Cancellations received 75 days prior to commencement of tour will be subject to a cancellation charge of 70% of the tour price. Cancellations received 45 - 0 days prior to commencement of tour will be subject to a cancellation charge of 100% of the tour price. Cancellation of airline tickets will be subject to the refund policy of each individual Airline. Please note most air tickets are 100% non-refundable. DEPOSIT OF $500 IS REQUIRED AT TIME OF BOOKING ALONG WITH THE RESERVATIONS REQUEST TERMS AND CONDITIONS FORM ON WEBSITE www.meyertravelgroup.com. FINAL PAYMENT IS DUE JAN. 24, 2019. TOUR COST IS BASED ON 18 PARTICIPANTS. PLS SEND THE BOOKING REQUEST FORM ALONG WITH YOUR DEPOSIT CHECK TO “MEYER TRAVEL GROUP”, 1005 CROATIA COURT, ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95661. BOOKING REQUEST FORM MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR DEPOSIT. KATIE MEYER 1-916-786-3708, [email protected] 15 MAR FRI Early evening departure from SFO for Istanbul Turkey. 16 MAR SAT Arrival Istanbul, transfer to your short flight to Izmir. Transfer to your hotel. Check in. 17 MAR SUN Breakfast. Morning departure to Pergamum one of the most spectacular cities of Asia Minor, it was the most favored of the Apocalypse churches, mentioned as the “Throne of Satan” in the Revelation (Rev. 1:12-17). The “Red Basilica” originally built for the Egyptian Goddess Serapis was used by Jews and Christians alike. Next, we will visit the Greco Roman ruins of the ancient city of Pergamum. The site is famous for the Temple of Trajan, library, vast theater and the alter. There is a reconstruction of the alter in the Pergamum Museum in Berlin. During ancient times Pergamum was considered the second Athens, as it was an important extension the Athenian City States. Below the Acropolis of Pergamum, you will visit the site Asklepion, the oldest hospital in the ancient world. Dinner. 18 MAR MON Breakfast. Izmir, ancient Smyrna founded by the Amazons first, later became the center of trade in antiquity, the city of Homer and St. Polycarp. The church was challenged, “Be faithful, even to the point of death "(Rev.2: 8-11). A morning visit is planned to St. Polycarp Church. Mid-morning visit to the Konak, Izmir’s Shopping Bazaar. Lunch (optional) is planned in the Konak Bazaar. Afternoon walking tour of the Konak Bazaar, plenty of time for shopping is planned. Dinner. 19 MAR TUE Breakfast. Morning departure for Ephesus one of the prime Biblical sites and dominant city of Antiquity. It is one of the highlights of any visit to Turkey. Ephesus was the wealthiest and most populated city in the Asian province of the Roman Empire. References to Ephesus in the Bible outnumber any other site; Paul spent more than two years, John lived from 40 AD. onwards in this city. House of Mary and the Church of Mary is where the 3rd Ecumenical Council met are among the many important sites of Christian history. The city is the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the House of Virgin Mary where she is believed to have spent the last days of her life, the Library of Celsus, the Baths of Scholastica, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of the Emperor Trajan, the Greater Theatre where Paul once preached to a crowd of 24,000, St. John’s Cathedral, a 6th.C cathedral built on the burial site of St. John on a overlooking the site of the Temple of Artemis. Visit Ephesus Museum in Selcuk. We will visit a winery in Torbli, Arkas La Winery to learn about Turkish Wines and enjoy a wine tasting with light snacks. Return to Izmir. Dinner. 20 MAR WED Breakfast. Morning departure for Sardis, the magnificent capital of Lydian’s and their mythological King Croesus and a major city during Persian and Roman periods. The church was described as having a great reputation for being alive, though it was dead (Rev.3: 1-6). Excavations and reconstruction work still continue in this site, which is identified by many as the Old Testament site "Sepharad" mentioned in Obadiah 20-21. After visiting the Gymnasium, the ancient Synagogue, the Temple of Artemis and the early Byzantine Church at Sardis. Philadelphia, city of brotherly-love, the Apocalypse church was small but faithful (Rev.2:7-13). The remains of the Cathedral of John of the 6th.C. Can be visited at the center of town of Alasehir. Thyatira, well known for its Thyrian Purple cloth that became the “Cardinal Purple” later. This hometown of Lydia (Acts 16:14) was originally a small industrial town and military outpost. From here, the Macedonian rulers protected Pergamon and Sardis, and Roman Emperors were worshiped as the Greek God Apollo. The church was chastened because of the influence of a local "Jezebel". Overnight Pamukale. Dinner. Swim in a thermal hot springs pool in the hotel. 21 MAR THU Breakfast. This morning we will visit the ancient city of Hierapolis with hot springs where you will view the spectacular white calcium deposits from its water spilling over the nearby hillside; Hierapolis was a favorite spa in the Roman world. Paul greeted this city in his letter to Colossians (Col. 4:13). Traditionally St. Philip is connected with the early church in Hierapolis, and a martyrium dedicated to him is identified in the site. You will visit the Necropolis, “City of the Dead”, the Ancient Theatre and the Archeological Museum. Our next visit will be to the Biblical site of Laodicea where the good quality of raven black wool was spun, Laodicea was once a wealthy city, it declined when the emperors' financial help after the earthquakes in first century AD. This church was described as "lukewarm, naked, blind and in abject poverty. “It was a cultic center of Hierapolis, and both cities are mentioned in Paul's letter (Col. 2:1&4:15). Flight to Istanbul. 22 MAR FRI Breakfast. Today we will visit the Egyptian Spice Market where spice and goods have been traded since ancient times. Mid-morning boat ride on the Bosporus Strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. View the homes and Palaces from Ottoman times built on the banks of Strait dividing the Asian and European Continents. Enjoy dinner included will be hosted at Hamdi Turkish Restaurant. 23 MAR SAT Breakfast. Morning visit to Chora to see the 11th century Church of Our Savior. The church is the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul after the Hagia Sophia. The walls are decorated with superb 14th century frescos and mosaics on a gold ground. The church is a remarkable museum of Byzantine art. Join your guide for a walking tour of the ancient Roman Hippodrome, with its Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column. Chariot races were held in the Hippodrome during the Roman Period. The Hippodrome is approximately half the original size today. Next you will visit the Basilica Cistern where water was stored for Topkapi Palace. Visit the world-famous Blue Mosque built in the 17th century. The Blue Mosque takes its name from the decorative blue tiles produced in the town of Iznik. Iznik is located south of Istanbul and is where the first ecumenical council was held in 325 AD. The Nicene Creed was written in Iznik. Afternoon visit to the Basilica Cistern, this huge cistern supported by 336 columns occupies several acres where water was stored for Topkapi Palace. This afternoon we will visit the Grand Bazaar with hundreds of stalls filled with fabulous Turkish artifacts. 24 MAR SUN Breakfast. This morning we will we will visit Hagia Sophia, The Church of the Holy Wisdom.