Early Christianity Tour
Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya (Iconium), Antalya, Lystra, Tarsus, Pamukkale,
Seven Churches and Istanbul
May 13–27, 2016
Tour Hosts: Dr. Jay Givens
Dr. David C. Maltsberger
Organized by
Early Christianity Tour / May 13-27, 2016
Ea rl y C hr i s t
“Students may earn college credit”
Cappadocia
Dark Church, Cappadocia
Tour Itinerary:
May 13 Fri
Turkey
May 18 Wed Cappadocia – Konya – Lystra – Antalya
Drive to Iconium (Acts 13:51; 14:1–21; 16:2, II Tim. 3:11), today’s Konya. Then
drive to the Biblical site of Lystra (Acts 14:6–21; 16:1–2, II Tim. 3:11). Proceed to
Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Depart from Lubbock, or San Antonio – Fly Ankara,
May 14 Sat
Arrive Ankara Airport
Arrive at Ankara Airport. Your tour guide will meet you after the customs
and baggage claim. Meet and transfer to the Hotel for check-in for dinner and
overnight. (D)
May 15 Sun Ankara, Capital City of Turkey – Cappadocia
In the morning visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum at which numerous
remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many
others are on display; then visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the
national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. Drive to Cappadocia, a
picturesque trip along the Salt Lake, and we pass by the 13th century Seljukian
Caravanserai Agzikarahan. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Cappadocia. (B,D)
May 16 Mon Ihlara Canyon – Cappadocia
Depart from your hotel at 09:30 am. Drive to Ihlara. Walk thru Ihlara Canyon, up
to Belisirma village, the ancient Peristrema: “Valley of the Sky” along the Melendiz
River. Rock-cut churches spread across a wild plantation, surprise you with their
successfully painted representations from the Bible. Lunch stop in Belisirma, a
local restaurant by the river. Stop by Selime, a village with cave houses at the end
of the canyon. Return to the hotel for diner and overnight. (B,D)
May 17 Tues Cappadocia
Visit Goreme Open Air Museum, Ihlara Valley including painted cave churches,
Guzelyurt (Karballa), the birthplace of St. Gregory of Nazianzus, and the
underground city of Kaymakli. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Myra
May 19 Thurs
Demre – Hierapolis – Pamukkale
Early departure to Myra, one of the six great
cities of the Lycian civilization which was
first settled in the 5th century B.C. The rock
tombs, theater and Church of St. Nicholas
commemorate the life and work of this Fourth
Century Bishop. Saint Nicholas provided the
dowries for three poor girls who would not have
been able to marry otherwise, the beginning of
our tradition of Christmas giving. Continue to
Hierapolis, where we will visit the Martyrium
of St.Philip amidst the site’s extensive ruins.
Overnight Pamukkale. (B,D)
May 20 Fri
Pamukkale – Hierapolis – Laodicea – Aphrodisias
Complete the tour of Hierapolis, see the wonderful formation of stalactites in
Pamukkale (Cotton Castle), the Roman Bath which later became a church. See
the ruins of Laodicea. Drive to Aphrodisias, see the well preserved Stadium, the
Odeon, the Theater and the Agora. Continue to Kusadasi for overnight. (B,D)
May 21 Sat
Kusadasi – Priene – Miletus – Didyma
Visit the Greco–Roman city of Priene. Then visit Miletus theater where Paul
spoke to the locals. Last visit to the Apollo Temple in Didyma, the famous oracle
center of Asia Minor. Return to Kusadasi. (B,D)
Milet Theater
Antalya
Early Christianity Tour / May 13-27, 2016
May 22 Sun Ephesus – Izmir
Depart for Ephesus, cradle of the early Churches. Morning Mass and visit
to the House of the Virgin Mary, ancient Ephesus, the Church of Mary, the
Archaeological Museum, the Temple of Diana (one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World), the grave and Basilica of St. John. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D)
sti a ni ty To u r
TOUR MAP
May 13–27, 2016
BLACK SEA
KALAMBAKA
DELPHI
CORINTH
NICAEA
A
AN SE
AEGE
METEORA
GREECE
ISTANBUL
BURSA
PERGAMUM
THYATIRA
SARDIS
ANKARA
TURKEY
IZMIR
PHILADELPHIA
(SMYRNA)
HIERAPOLIS
EPHESUS
LAODICEA
PRIENE
MILETUS APHRODISIAS
DIDYMA
ANTALYA
CAPPADOCIA
KONYA
LYSTRA
DEMRE
Istanbul
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
May 23 Mon Sardis – Philadelphia – Izmir
Visit St. Polycarp church; travel to Sardis, the capital city of the ancient kingdom
of Lydia, and the church which was built on the foundations of the Temple of
Artemis. After traveling to Philadelphia, return to Izmir. Visit the Roman Agora in
Izmir. Balance of the afternoon is free to explore the city and its ancient bazaar.
Overnight in Izmir. (B,D)
May 24 Tues Pergamum – Thyatira – Bursa
Depart to Pergamum to see the Asclepion, the ancient hospital whose approach
to medicine was remarkably modern, the Acropolis, the church at the site of
ancient Serapium, and the Red Court dedicated to St. John. Continue to Akhisar
to see the Thyatira Church reminings. Bursa for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 25 Wed Bursa – Nicea – Iznik – Istanbul
Drive to Iznik (ancient Nicaea) via the beautiful Iznik lake road. Two ecumenical
councils were held here: the First Ecumenical Council of 325 and the Seventh
Ecumenical Council of 787. Visit the ruins of the St. Sophia Church where the
Seventh Ecumenical Council was held. In the afternoon, drive to Istanbul, the
only city in the world spanning two continents; transfer to hotel. Take a boat
trip through the Bosporus Strait, viewing the mosques, palaces, old traditional
wooden villas and the beauty of the Asian and European shorelines on each side.
Evening at leisure. (B,D)
May 26 Thu Istanbul
A full day of sightseeing in Istanbul. Morning visit to St. Chora Church. Drive
to the Old City to visit the Roman Hippodrome, St. Sophia Church, built by
Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of
the world’s greatest architectural marvels and a designated World Heritage site.
Then visit the important Istanbul Archaeological Museum containing the Gezer
Calender, the Titus Inscriptions, City Walls from Babylon, and other important
items. Visit the St. Irene Church with special permission. Afterward, we’ll have
the opportunity to go shopping at the Grand Bazaar. This evening, Farewell
Dinner at a Seafood Restaurant in Kumkapi district. (B,D)
May 27 Fri
Istanbul – Fly back to Lubbock, or San Antonio
After an early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Istanbul Ataturk Airport for
your flight home. (B)
LAND & AIR:
$ 3,690
$ 790
Per Person in Double
Single Supplement
INCLUDING
•International Roundtrip Air Fare between Lubbock, or San Antonio
– Turkey
•13 nights at 3 star hotels in Turkey
•Sightseeing as per the itinerary
•All escorted transfers
•Daily breakfast and 13 dinners (B: breakfast, D: dinner)
•Transportation by private A/C bus with driver throughout the tour
•Tolls, parking fees, gasoline, Yalova Car ferry tickets
•Bible Oriented English speaking professional tour guide throughout
the tour
•Entry fees to the sites & museums
•Service charges & local taxes
EXCLUDING
•Lunches and all drinks
•Turkish Visa Fee-to be obtained online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr
•Personal expenses
•Any other service which is not mentioned above
Temple of Trajan, Acropolis,
Pergamum
Early Christianity Tour / May 13-27, 2016
•Tips to tour guide ($5 per person per day) and to the driver ($2 per
person per day)
Sardis, Turkey
PAYMENT PROCEDURE:
1- $200 per person Deposit: November 30, 2015 (non-refundable)
2- Full Payment : February 20, 2016
The payment will be made to TUTKU TOURS by using the below secure link (Visa
or MC only); https://secure.tutkutours.com/tours/160513WBU
Cancellation Penalty:
– 90–60 days prior to departure: No Penalty
– 59–45 days prior to departure: 25%
– 44–30 days prior to departure: 50%
– 29–15 days prior to departure: 75%
– 14 days & After
No refund
Travel Insurance: Participants will be required to purchase international travel
insurance through Gallagher Charitable. Optional trip cancellation insurance may
be purchased through Gallagher as well. Travel insurance and trip cancellation
insurance are contracts between the traveler and the insurance company.
Information on obtaining these policies will be provided by instructors to trip
participants.
Organized by
Gaziosmanpaşa Bulvarı 3/303 Izmir 35210 TURKEY
Phone: +90–232 441–8635 / 441–8676 / 441–8677
Fax: +90–232 441–8636
E–mail: info@tutkutours.com • www.tutkutours.com
Early Christianity Tour / May 13-27, 2016
For Registration please contact:
Dr. David C. Maltsberger
Associate Professor of Religion & Philosophy
Director, Certificate of Christian Ministry
Wayland Baptist University, San Antonio Campus
11550 IH 35 North
San Antonio, Texas 78233
210-590-5656
David.maltsberger@wbu.edu
Dr. Jay Givens
Professor of Religion
Director of Online Religion Programs
Wayland Baptist University
1900 West 7th Street, CMB 1276
Plainview, Texas 79072
(806) 291-1166 Fax: (806) 291-1969
jgivens@wbu.edu