Afternoon flight from London to Istanbul. Dinner served in flight. On arrival, transfer to our hotel in Istanbul for a three night stay.

We begin today with a visit to the Blue Mosque and then St Sophia, which was one of the great churches of Byzantium. In the afternoon we visit the Topkapi Palace of the Sultans of Turkey. This was the seat of government for the old Turkish Empire. We then visit the grand bazaar for some shopping. Dinner will be in our hotel tonight.

After breakfast we make a Golden Horn tour with a visit to St Saviour of Chora, containing wonderful frescoes and the Mosque of Suleymaniye. This afternoon we have a cruise on the Bosphorus by private boat. Afterwards, return to our hotel for dinner.

We now move from the Empire of the Sultan, and the churches of Byzantium, to the second century church as we begin our tour of the churches mentioned in the book of Revelation. “Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to show his servants what must soon take place; He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John” (Rev 1:1). After an early breakfast, we take a boat trip by high-speed craft to the port of Bandirma (2 hours), and on by coach to Pergamon (THE FIRST CHURCH), “To the Angel of Pergamum write: The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword” (Rev 2:12). The city dates back to 399BC, we visit the Acropolis and the remains of the great library which in its days held 200,000 volumes. It was also a centre of healing centred on the God Asclepium. After our visit we drive to Akhishar (ancient Thyatira), with its ruined monastery (THE THIRD CHURCH), “To the Angel of Thyatira write: The words of The Son of God, who has eyes like flames of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (Rev 2:18). Late arrival in Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Izmir is of course Smyrna (THE SECOND CHURCH), “To the Angel of Smyrna write: The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life” (Rev: 2:8). We visit the church of St Polycarp, a disciple of John, who was Bishop here. Afterwards, we leave for Sardis (THE FOURTH CHURCH), “To the Angel of Sardis write: The words of him who has seven spirits of God and the seven stars, I know your works; you have the name alive and you are dead” (Rev 2:1). Here there are impressive ruins including the well-restored first-century synagogue, baths and the Byzantine Church and continue to Philadelphia (present day Aleshir), and our FIFTH CHURCH, “To the Angel of Philadelphia write: The words of the Holy One, the true one who has the key of David, who opens and no-one shuts, who shuts and no-one opens” (Rev 3:7) We see the city walls, the Acropolis and the remains of the cathedral. Continue to Pamukkale, a famous hot spring. Pamukkale means cotton castle, for the

mass of calcium appears as a castle covered with cotton flowers. Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

We visit the ruins of Hierapolis, including the martyrium of St Philip. Afterwards, continue to Laodicea (THE SIXTH CHURCH), “To the Angel of Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation” (Rev 3:14). Christianity came to the area during the time of St Paul, brought by Epaphras of Colossae. Laodicea became the seat of the bishopric, and hosted an important ecumenical council in the fourth century AD. Then on to the major archaeological site of Aphrodisias, with its museum and impressive ruins. We then travel via Selcuk to visit the Citadel with the ruined basilica and tomb of St John and finally to the seaside town of Kusadasi for the remainder of our stay (3-nights). Dinner will be in our hotel each evening.

Today we tour the extensive remains of Ephesus (THE SEVENTH CHURCH), “To the Angel of the Ephesus church write: The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lamp stands” (Rev 2:1).We visit the Amphitheatre where St Paul preached, and caused a riot (described in Acts 19), and the ruined basilica of St Mary where the council of Ephesus was held in 425AD, granting Our Lady the title of Theotokos or Mother of God.