Culture Tours
7 Churches of The Apocalypse Tour
ISTANBUL – ÇANAKKALE – KUŞADASI – PAMUKKALE – IZMIR – MANİSA – ISTANBUL
7 Nights
The 7 Churches of the Apocalypse Tour is a religious pilgrimage, following the route taken in the Book of Revelation by the Apostle John to visit seven churches in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. These churches—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea—were established by the early Christian community and gained prominence in the first and second centuries before fading away. Today, these ancient sites are popular among Christian pilgrims and tourists as they offer a glimpse into the early Christian church and the challenges faced by believers in that era. Visitors can explore the ruins of the churches, including ancient tombs, baptismal pools, and even underground tunnels. The tour also includes cultural experiences, such as traditional Turkish meals and visits to local museums. The 7 Churches of the Apocalypse Tour is a unique opportunity to connect with the history of the Christian faith and deepen one’s spirituality.
Highlights
Çanakkale
- Troy Ancient City Ruins
Istanbul
- Topkapi Palace And Hagia Irene Museum
- Hagia Sophia
- Hippodrome
- Blue Mosque
- Obelisk & Serpentine Column
Manisa
- Philadelphia (Alaşehir) Ruins
- Philadelphia (Alaşehir) St. Jean Church
- Sardes Ancient Ruins And Artemis Temple
- Thyateira Ancient Ruins
Pamukkale
- Cotton Castle (Hierapolis )
- Hierapolis Archeology Museum
- Laodikeia Ruins
İzmir
- Pergamon Acropol Ruins
- Saint Polycarp
- Ephesus Ruins
- St. Jean Basilica
- The House Of The Virgin Mary
EPHESUS – Kuşadası
This warning from the book of Revelation is still relevant today. It is a reminder for Christians to revive their love for Jesus Christ and to prioritize an intimate relationship with Him, rather than being consumed with religious practices or works. The message to the Ephesian Church is a call for steadfastness in faith and love for Christ, which remains vital for Christians in modern times.
LAODICEA – Denizli
Laodicea was one of the seven churches of the Apocalypse mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Located in present-day Turkey, in the city of Denizli, it was a prosperous commercial center known for its banking, textile, and medical industries. However, the church in Laodicea was criticized in the Book of Revelation for being lukewarm in its faith and for putting its trust in material wealth instead of God.
Today, visitors can explore the remains of the ancient city, including the impressive stadium, numerous bathhouses, and the theater. The city also had an extensive water supply system, which is still functional and can be seen today. The ruins of the church in Laodicea are not as prominent, as they were frequently destroyed and rebuilt during the city’s tumultuous history. Thus, the church serves as a reminder of the importance of staying true to one’s faith and not letting worldly possessions cloud one’s spiritual life.
SMYRNA – İzmir
The SMYRNA church, also known as the Izmir church, was one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Despite facing intense persecution from both the Roman Empire and the Jewish community, the Smyrna church remained steadfast in its faith. The church’s unwavering commitment to God is reflected in the words of the apostle John, who wrote that the Smyrna church was “faithful unto death.”
The SMYRNA church’s modern-day location is in the Turkish city of Izmir. It remains an important site for Christians who visit to gain a deeper understanding of the church’s significance and how it has influenced Christianity over the centuries. The church’s message of perseverance in the face of persecution continues to inspire Christians worldwide, reminding them of Christ’s promise that “those who endure to the end will be saved.
PERGAMUM – Bergama
Pergamum, also known as Bergama, was one of the seven churches mentioned in the Biblical book of Revelation. The city was home to an impressive library and the famous altar of Zeus. The church in Pergamum was commended for holding fast to its faith, despite its location in an area where Satan’s throne was said to be. However, the church was also rebuked for compromising with the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.
Balaam was a prophet who was paid to curse the Israelites, but ultimately failed to do so. In the context of the church in Pergamum, it’s believed that some members were indulging in idolatrous practices and immorality, similar to what Balaam did. The Nicolaitans were a group of people who were teaching that Christians could engage in sinful behavior without any consequences. The message to the church in Pergamum reminds us to hold fast to our faith and not compromise our beliefs, even in the face of persecution or temptation.
PHILADELPHIA – Alaşehir
Alaşehir is a city in western Turkey that was once known as Philadelphia in ancient times. It was one of the seven cities referenced in the biblical book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse. The city is noted for its significance in Christian history, due to its association with one of the churches mentioned in the book of Revelation. This particular church was known as “The Church that Patiently Endured Despite Weaknesses”.
According to biblical accounts, the church in Philadelphia received a message from God, praising them for their faithfulness and perseverance despite their limitations. This message is believed to have been an encouragement to Christians in the early days of the faith, and it remains a source of inspiration for many believers today. Today, visitors can still see the remains of the ancient city and explore its rich historical and cultural heritage.
SARDIS – Salihli
In the book of Revelation, the apostle John addresses seven churches in Asia Minor, each with distinct characteristics and issues. One of these is the Church of Sardis, located in the city of Salihli. This church is known as “the church that is spiritually dead” because it was failing to live up to its reputation and had become complacent in its faith. The church believed itself to be alive, but in reality, it was lacking true spiritual vitality.
John warns the church to wake up and strengthen what remains before it’s too late. He calls them to repent, turn back to God, and hold fast to their faith. If they do not, they risk having their names blotted out of the book of life.
The message to the Church of Sardis serves as a reminder to all believers to continuously assess their spiritual health and strive to live in a way that reflects the vibrancy of their faith.
THYATIRA – Akhisar
Thyatira is one of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse. This church was located in modern-day Akhisar, Turkey, during the first century AD. In the letter to the church in Thyatira, the author of Revelation (traditionally John) commends the church for its love, faith, and service. However, the author also calls out the church for allowing a false prophetess named Jezebel to lead some members astray.
Jezebel was believed to have taught that it was acceptable for Christians to compromise their faith by engaging in sexual immorality and idol worship. The author warns that those who follow Jezebel’s teachings will experience severe consequences. The author encourages those who have remained faithful to continue to do so and promises them authority over the nations.
Included
- 1 Night accommodation in Çanakkale – hotel 3+* on HB Basis
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in Kuşadası – hotel 5* on HB basis
- 1 Night accommodation in Pamukkale – hotel 5* on HB Basis
- 1 Night accommodation in İzmir – hotel 4* on HB Basis
- 2 Nights’ accommodation in Istanbul – hotel 4* on HB basis
- 7 Dinners at Hotel Restaurants
- Transfer by bus Istanbul – Çanakkale – Kuşadası – Izmir – Istanbul
- Transportation in Private A/C Vehicle according to the tours program
- Bus park, Gasoline, Highway & Bridge fees
- Meet and Assist
Excluded
- Entrance fees which are mentioned on itinerary
- Professional Licensed Tour Guide during the tours
- Travel Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
- Visa to enter Turkey
- Drinks and Lunches
- Air Tickets International and Domestic fly
Terms & Conditions
- All prices quoted are Per Person on HB basis in EURO
- Rates are applicable for a minimum of 15/20/25/30 + 1 FOC persons traveling at one time.
- Rates are based on Superior or Standard category of rooms depends on the Hotels Classes.
- Prices may vary according to the number of people participating in the tour and the requested dates
- For Additional Information and details or different type of tour that you want , please contact with us.
Tour Program
Day 1: YOUR COUNTRY – ISTANBUL – ÇANAKKALE / 300 km
Arrival at NEW İstanbul Airport from your Country, meeting with the local guide, departure to Çanakkale, we continue the road with crossing the Dardanelles Strait by ferry. Accommodation and dinner at Hotel in Çanakkale.
Day 2: ÇANAKKALE – TROIA – BERGAMA – KUŞADASI / 450 km
After breakfast, we continue the journey, we stop to visit the Troy and Pergamon Fortress. TROIA, one of the most sung in classical mythology, due to the war started by the Greeks to bring back Elena, the wife of Menelaus who had been kidnapped by Paris. And the Trojans fought. Eventually the Greeks succeeded in conquering Troy, pretending to retreat, and hid in Tenedos, leaving the famous wooden horse on the beach. We continue the journey to the city of Bergama where we visit the ruins of PERGAMON; it became famous only in the years after the death of Alexander the Great. The ancient city of Perga, present in the apocalyptic writings, with the ancient temple of Athens, the residence of the student kings, we visit the Acropolis, the library, the temple of Trajan, the theater, the temple of Dionysus, the altar of Zeus, Christian relics, etc. The king of Pergamum Attalus 1 defeated the Gaul’s, earning the respect and friendship of the Romans for Pergamum.
Day 3: KUŞADASI – EFES
After breakfast, we start with a visit to Ephesus ancient Greek city Asia Minor, near the mouth of the river Menderes, in what is today Western Turkey, south of Izmir (now Izmir). One of the largest Ionian cities, it has become the leading seaport of the region. His wealth was proverbial. The Greek city was close to an ancient center of worship of a native goddess of nature, which was assimilated with the Greek Artemis around 550 BC. a large temple was built. Croesus, who captured the city, contributed to this. The common Christian belief is that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, came to Ephesus with St. John after the Crucifixion of Christ and the two lived the rest of their lives near the city. St. John or the Apostle Loan was the writer of the fourth Gospel and the book of Revelation. The Gospels agree that he is the son of Zebedee; together with his brother Jacob, they began to follow Jesus as they fished in Lake Galilee. It is believed that the evangelist St. John spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and was buried on the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. Three hundred years after the death of St. John, a small chapel was built over the tomb in the 4th century. Accommodation and dinner at Hotel in Kuşadası.
Day 4: KUŞADASI – PAMUKKALE / 190 km
After breakfast, departure to Pamukkale; which means “cotton castle” in Turkish. The site gets its name from the many white cascading pools with shiny turquoise water surfaces. From a distance, the white limestone walls look like a huge castle of fluffy cotton. These limestone walls were formed by calcium–rich water from springs. Finally, the calcium carbonate in the water slowly settles like a soft jelly and eventually hardens into limestone. Hot springs are not Pamukkale’s only attraction.
Above the cascading pools, you will find the remains of an ancient city. The city of Hierapolis was a Greco–Roman and Byzantine city above the castle. We will visit to the ancient church of Laodicea. At the end of the twentieth century, people began to build hotels above the ruins. As a result, this severely damaged the city. Hotels were removed after Hierapolis became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Accommodation and dinner at Hotel in Pamukkale.
Day 5: PAMUKKALE – ALAŞEHİR – SALİHLİ – İZMİR / 189 km
After breakfast we continue the journey to Alaşehir – Philadelphia. Although several ancient cities were called Philadelphia, this is generally agreed to be the one listed among seven churches written by John in the Book of Revelation. Philadelphia is listed as the sixth of seven churches. A letter specifically addressed to the Philadelphia church is recorded in Revelation 3: 7–13. Aside from the strange fact that Smyrna was warned of temptation that lasted “ten days,” while Philadelphia was promised a total exemption or retention from temptation, Philadelphia shares with Smyrna the distinction of receiving nothing but praise from Christ. We continue the road to Salihli–Sardes. The church of Sardis was founded in the city of the same name, which for a long time was the capital of the old kingdom of Lydia. It was a city on a high plateau, to which there was only one access road. Although it is not known how it came into being, following the letter addressed to it we can see that in the early days the church in Sardis had a period of progress and spiritual victory. Jesus himself tells those in Sardis to remember how they heard and received God’s Word (Revelation 3: 3). We continue the day to Izmir, dinner and accommodation at Hotel in İzmir.
Day 6: İZMİR – AKHİSAR – ISTANBUL / 490 km
After a short breakfast tour of the ancient city of SMIRNA was, according to some testimonies, the birthplace of Homer, an important commercial center due to its port and its location about 50 km from Ephesus. The ancient city of Philadelphia is known in the Christian world as one of the seven churches of the apocalypse. The Church of St. Polycarp in SMIRNA is one of the two churches to which Jesus does not address any rebuke. However, some necromantic practices of the classical ancient type that aimed at contacting and obtaining the help of the dead survived in the medieval West, but they acquired a secondary importance compared to the other new necromancy that aimed at contacting Lucifer and a special case could be considered the official cult. Departure to Akhisar, visit Thyatira, we continue the trip to Istanbul, dinner and hotel accommodation in Istanbul.
Day 7: ISTANBUL
After breakfast at the hotel restaurant, tour of the old city of Constantinople the only city in the world that stretches on the shores of two continents Asia and Europe, visit: Topkapı Palace, St. SOFIA Church, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Obelisk. Topkapı Palace consists of three distinct areas – Outer Palace, Inner Palace and Harem. TOPKAPI Palace was the strong center of the distant Ottoman Empire, became the site of events over 400 years of history. “Aya Sofya “– St. Sophia; The Church of the Holy Wisdom is one of the most beautiful architectural creations in the world, dedicated in 536 during the reign of Justinian. Bosporus cruise
; where you can see various sights, palaces on the European or Asian shore. Dinner and hotel accommodation in Istanbul.
Day 8: ISTANBUL – YOUR COUNTRY
After breakfast at the hotel restaurant, you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport.
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