Roots of the Church: From Apostles to Creed

Experience the wonder of Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul preached and the early Church took root. In this powerful ancient port of 250,000 people, Paul’s ministry was such a threat to the idol-based economy that it incited a riot. The church in Ephesus played a hugely important role in the early centuries of Christianity. She was the recipient of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, admonished in Revelation for having “forsaken the love you had at first” (Rev 2:4), and hosted the Third Ecumenical Council in 431. Explore its magnificent theater, the Library of Celsus, and ruins of the 6th-century Basilica of St. John. Afterwards, delight in the slow-paced Turkish village of Sultankoy, where olive oil, wine, and famous Turkish carpets are all produced on-site.

This day is packed with archeological treasures. Visit the stadium and colonnaded streets of Laodicea, one of the seven churches in Revelation to whom Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Drive to Aphrodisias, the ancient worship center of the goddess Aphrodite and one of the best preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. Walk the ancient site of Hierapolis and wade in the hot springs of Pamukkale (Turkish for “cotton castle”), famous for its dazzling white hillside. On the way back to the hotel, stop by the brand new excavation of Colossae, recipients of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Digging begins mid-2025, so who knows what they will have discovered by the time we arrive!

Arrive at the pier just before sunrise to board your privately chartered ferry to the Greek island of Patmos. Cross the turquoise blue Aegean Sea, arriving on the island at 11 a.m. Refreshments will be served on board courtesy of Ya’lla Tours USA. Meet your local Greek guide and visit St. John Monastery and Apocalypse Cave, where the Apostle John received a vision of the risen Jesus and wrote the book of Revelation. Sail back to Kusadasi in the late afternoon.

Visit Pergamum, the Revelation church commended by Jesus for her faithfulness in the face of intense persecution (Rev 2:13). Perched 1,000 feet above the modern town, the remains of this stunning acropolis include the Altar of Zeus, palaces, the temples of Trajan and Dionysus, and the world’s steepest amphitheater. Continue to Assos, visited by Paul during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:13-14). With its undeveloped coastline and acropolis perched above the sea, this lesser-known gem offers a sense of what life was like 2000 years ago. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at a waterfront hotel to soak in the same views Paul would have seen. www.assoskervansaray.com

Visit Bursa and admire master works of Ottoman Islamic architecture: the Green Mosque and the Green Tomb, adorned with turquoise and green tiles. Continue to the site of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (modern-day Iznik), which reaffirmed the full divinity of Jesus in AD 325 and composed the Nicene Creed still recited by Christians around the world today.

Take a scenic ferry across the Sea of Marmara to Istanbul. Pass through the Kadıköy district, where in AD 451 the fourth ecumenical Council of Chalcedon affirmed Jesus to be both fully human and fully divine. Settle into your hotel on the Bosphorus Strait and enjoy a free afternoon exploring one of the most culturally rich cities in the world. www.theartisanistanbul.com

Visit the Chora Church, a working mosque with exquisitely preserved mosaics from the 12th and 14th-centuries, including the iconic “Harrowing of Hell” in which the risen, victorious Christ tramples the gates of Hell itself. Continue to Topkapi Palace, the legendary and opulent residence of the Ottoman sultans. Finally, experience the incomparable Hagia Sophia, the Christian basilica and architectural marvel unrivaled around the world until the construction of St. Peter’s in Rome over 1000 years later. Built by Justinian in the 6th-century, Christians worshipped here for nearly 1000 years until the basilica was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. Conclude your time in Turkey by roaming through the 17th-century Egyptian Spice Bazaar, followed by a special farewell dinner.

Fly from Istanbul at 8:30 a.m. to Kayseri on Turkish Airlines, arrival at 10 a.m. Then, begin exploring Cappadocia’s volcanic landscape. Visit the natural Citadel of Uchisar, the 7th-century underground city of Derinkuyu, and the pottery town of Avanos along the Kizilirmak, Turkey’s longest river. Discover ancient rock-cut churches, tunnels, and traditional villages once hidden for centuries. Check in to Urgup Evi, a charming hotel carved into volcanic stone.

Visit the stunning Goreme and Zelve Valleys to explore rock-cut churches with vivid 11th–12th century frescoes. Continue to Soganli Valley, an open air museum in a natural setting, and Keslik Monastery, where ancient frescoes are revealed by torchlight. See the Medrese theological school in Taskınpasa and the ancient Greek town of Mustafapasa with its elegant architecture. Walk through fabulous volcanic rock formations of Red Valley and enjoy dinner in a traditional cave restaurant.