Morning flight of Turkish Airlines from Birmingham. Arrive Istanbul and transfer to our 4-star hotel in the city, for a three-night stay. Dinner is in our hotels on each night of our throughout the pilgrimage.

 

This morning we visit the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, and the monuments of the Hippodrome. We also visit the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, associated with Pope John XXIII, who was Bishop here before and during the Second World War. Mass will be celebrated here. In the afternoon, we visit the Topkapi Palace, and there will be some time at leisure.

We visit the 19th century church of St Anthony of Padua, run by Italian Franciscans, in the former European Quarter. We also visit the former church of St Saviour in Chora, with its famous frescoes, and then plunge through the steep streets of the Fener District to the Greek Patriarchate and its church. In the afternoon there will be a cruise on a boat on the Bosphorus.

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.

ts). Dinner will be in our hotel each evening.

Today we tour the extensive remains of Ephesus with the amphitheatre where St Paul caused a riot (described in Acts 19), and the ruined basilica of St Mary where the council of Ephesus was held in 425, granting Our Lady the title of Theotokos or Bearer of God.

This we transfer to Izmir Airport for our return flight to Birmingham (via Istanbul).