{"id":29,"date":"2016-08-22T16:22:55","date_gmt":"2016-08-22T13:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2016-08-25T11:51:54","modified_gmt":"2016-08-25T08:51:54","slug":"the-seven-churches-of-the-apocalypse-and-nicea","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/?page_id=29","title":{"rendered":"The Seven Churches of The Apocalypse and Nicea"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Seven Churches of the Apocalypse and Nicea<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI john, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom\u00a0and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and\u00a0 for the testimony of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

“<\/strong> I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard\u00a0behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what you see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus<\/strong>, and unto Smyrna<\/strong>, and unto Pergamum<\/strong>, and unto Thyatira<\/strong>, and unto Sardis<\/strong>, and unto Philadelphia<\/strong>, and unto Laodicea<\/strong>. And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.\u201d The Revelation 1:9-12<\/p>\n

Anatolia ( Asia Minor) has been the center of Christianity ever since St.Paul, St.Peter, St.John, St. Barnabas and their companions John Mark, Silas, Luke came here to preach the Gospel of the teachings of Jesus Christ. This trip will allow you full insight into the achievements of these early Christian missionaries and the Seven Churches of The Revelation.
\n<\/strong>
\nNicea <\/strong>was the venue for the first Ecumenical Councils in 325 and the last Ecumenical Council in 787, meetings of representatives of all Christian churches. The Nicean Creed which is recited by many Christians as their belief, was first formulated by the bishops in Nicae in AD 325. You will pray in the very same spot where the early Fathers formulated the Nicean Creed of your Sunday Mass.<\/p>\n

Day 1\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Istanbul Arrival
\n<\/b>Arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. After check in, free time. Dinner and Overnight. (D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

D<\/b>ay 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Izmir\u2013Basilica of St. John-Ephesus\u2013House of Virgin Mary-Kusadasi<\/b>
\nAfter an early breakfast, flight to Izmir. We will drive to the Basilica of St. John “The Evangelist”<\/strong> who camehere with Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel in Ephesus. Then we will carry on to Ephesus<\/strong> ancient city.Peoplevisiting Ephesus today can
\nvisualize the city when it was the capital of theprovince.<\/p>\n

St. Paul preached and taught in Ephesus for over 2years.\u00a0During that time he sent Timothy<\/strong> and Erastus<\/strong> to Macedonia to continue the missionary work there.\u00a0The names of several other earlyChristians are recorded asresidents of Ephesus. Among them are the eloquent<\/strong>Apollos<\/strong> withwhom St. Paul associated himself, saying that he planted, that Apollos watered, but that God gave the growth ( I Cor. 3 :6 )<\/p>\n

A couple, Priscilla and Aquilla<\/strong>, established a house church in Ephesus (I Cor. 16:19). The daughters of the Apostle Philip lived in Ephesus. A small stone building high up on the west\u00a0corner of the city wall is pointed out as St. Paul\u2019s Prison<\/strong>. He wrote the letter to the Ephesians\u00a0from this place.<\/p>\n

In Ephesus highlights include Double Church <\/strong>where in 431 the Third Ecumenical Council <\/strong>was held, the Library of Celcius<\/strong>, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Theater <\/strong>for many Christians the best-known building in Ephesus where a 1st century AD silversmith attempted to stir up a riot to get rid of St. Paul who was damaging his business of making images of Artemis.<\/p>\n

About 3 miles away in the forested mountain above Ephesus is House of Virgin Mary<\/strong>. Today it is visited by pilgrims from all over the world. It is a modest stone house. St John<\/strong> brought Virgin Mary\u00a0 to Ephesus in keeping with Jesus\u2019s admonition to him to care for his mother. (John 19:27)House of Virgin Mary, is now visited by over a hundred thousand pilgrims each year. The pilgrims come to drink the waters of the sacred spring, to mediate, to pray for health, and to breathe the atmosphere of if. You will be able to collect some holly water from the Sacred Spring<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Both Pope Paul VI in 1967 and Pope John Paul II in 1979 have celebrated mass here. Manypeople congregate at this sanctuary every August\u00a015 to observe the Feast of\u00a0 the Assumption <\/strong>of the Virgin<\/strong>. It was first identified in 1818 by an Austrian peasant, Anne Catherine Emmerich, who saw it \u00a0in adream exactly as it was found. The setting is beautifully peaceful, encouring reverence andcontemplation. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L,D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 3\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Kusadasi \u2013 Laodicea \u2013 Hierapolis –\u00a0 Pamukkale
\n<\/strong>After breakfast we leave our hotel early in the morning and drive to Hierapolis<\/strong> but before we get here we stop at Laodicea Ad Lycum<\/strong>.\u00a0The site of one of the Seven Churches<\/strong> addressed by St.John in the Book of Revelation. (Rev. 3:14-\u00a022), Laodicea is on a low hill on the south bank\u00a0of \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>the Lycus River ( Curuksu ). As a commercial\u00a0center, it had a large Jewish community. For St.\u00a0John in Revelation, the Christians of Laodicea were neither hot nor cold and because of theirindifference he wanted to spew them out of his mouth. \u201c I know all your ways, you are neither hot or cold. How I wish you were either hot or cold. Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>(Revelation 3:15-17)<\/p>\n

St.John promised in \u201c the words of the Amen\u201d \u00a0(Revelation 3:14) that for those who were sensitive enough to hear and respond to what was being said, the Spirit would join them in the great feast. \u201cHere I stand knocking at the door; if\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sit down to supper with him and he with me\u201c (Revelation 3:20)<\/p>\n

Then we will drive to Pamukkale (The Cotten Castle of \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>white travertine terraces), and Hierapolis ancient city\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>where St.Philip was martyred. Recently Italian archeologists have discovered his Martyrium, an octagonal chamber forming a\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>double cross surrounded by a square. St. Philip lived here after the Apostles scattered from \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Jerusalem. Hierapolis is listed in the New Testament along with Laodicea as the center of \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Epaphras\u2019s work (Colossians 4:13). Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale. (B,L,D)
\n<\/b>
\nDay 4\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Pamukkale –\u00a0 Philadelphia – Sardis \u2013 Izmir (Smyrna)
\n<\/b>After early breakfast departure from hotel and drive to Philadelphia. During Byzantine times Philadelphia was the seat of a Christian bishopric. Its significance in Christian history was because it congregations addressed by St.John in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 3:7-13).\u00a0Although one of the Seven Churches, Philadelphia was the least distinguished; it was the only one about which St. John had no real criticism. He characterized it as having been given an open door. He told the Christians not to leave anyone take away their crowns and promised that those who were victorious would become pillars in\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>God\u2019s \u00a0temple.\u00a0\u201cHold fast to what you have, and \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>let no \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>one rob you of your crown\u201d (Revelation 3:11).
\n
\n<\/strong>Then we will drive to Sardis<\/strong>, whose history dates back to\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>12th century BC, was the capital of the\u00a0ancient Kingdom of\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>Lydia. In the book of Revelation\u00a0(Rev. 3:1-6), St. John stated\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>that Sardis needed to \u00a0wake up.\u00a0He complained that their\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>acts did not live\u00a0up to their reputation, that they did not finish what theystarted. But he\u00a0 held out the hope those who were\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>not polluted that they should have robes of \u00a0white (Revelation\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>3:5). White was the color then ofrighteousness and \u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>immortality.<\/p>\n

Then we will drive to Izmir ( Smyrna )<\/strong> which was one of the Seven Church in St.John\u2019sBook of Revelation (Rev. 2:8-11)as the place of the synagogue of Satan. St.John tellstheChristians that they are about to suffer for their faith, but \u00a0<\/a><\/strong>also\u00a0says that those whoare faithful unto death will gain a crown of life. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,L,D)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/i>
\n
\nDay 5\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Thyatira<\/b> –<\/b> Pergamum\u2013 Bursa <\/b>
\n<\/b>After breakfast we will drive to Thyatira<\/strong>\u00a0 which is a small modern city today. The old Thyatira, the site of one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor<\/strong> ( Rev. 2:18-29 ). St.John\u2019s Criticism ofThyatira in Revelation was related to the prophetess Jezebel. Whether she was\u00a0 a real woman ofthat name or whether he intended her as a symbol of licentiousness, St. John saw the challengeto\u00a0 Christianity which Thyatira represented as a moral decay among the members. To those whorefused to compromise with their ideals he promised \u201c the star of dawn\u201d and \u201c authority over the nations\u201d.<\/p>\n

About forty years previous to the time that St. John wrote those words to the congregation inThyatira, St. Paul had met one of the merchants from there when he arrived in Philippi. This wason his second Journey. The merchant was Lydia<\/strong>, a woman dealing in expensive purple cloth. Under St.Paul\u2019s influence she and her whole household became baptized Christians. Lydia sheinsisted that St. Paul and his companions Timothy<\/strong> and St. Luke<\/strong> should stay in her house inPhilippi (Acts 16:13-15) By the end of the 1st century here must have been a sizable Christian community for St. John to have chosen it as one of his seven churches.<\/p>\n

Pergamum<\/strong>\u2019s place in religious history is largely because of the paragraph addressed to its Christian believers by St. John in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 2:12-17). He characterized Pergamum as the place where Satan was enthroned.( Revelation 2:13 ).<\/p>\n

St. John saw a group hecalled the Nicolatinas as an additional threat to the believers. Who thesepeople were is not clearly known. ( Revelation 2:14-15 ) St. John condemned them for\u00a0adultery andfor eating food that had been sacrificed to pagan gods. St. John also promised a white stone andhidden mannato those who repented of their false beliefs and immoral behavior\u00a0(Revelation 2:16-17).\u00a0 Drive to Bursa for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
\n<\/strong>
\nDay 6\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bursa \u2013 Nicea – Istanbul
\n<\/strong>After the breakfast, we leave Bursa behind usanddrive to Nicea<\/b>. Nicea was thevenue for <\/span>the first and the last Ecumenical Councils<\/span><\/b>, meetings ofrepresentatives of all Christian churches.The firstEcumenical Council was<\/span>\u00a0held in Nicaea in 325<\/b>. At the maincrossroads of Iznik is <\/span>theChurch of St<\/span>. Sophia<\/span><\/b> which is museum now. The church was built in the 4th<\/span>\u00a0century and hasa mosaic floorwhich dates to<\/span>\u00a0the 6th century. All gates and wallsdate from the Byzantine times.This is the building in <\/span>which the Seventh \u2013and last\u2013 Ecumenical<\/span>\u00a0Councilwas held in <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0787.<\/span> The<\/span>Nicean Creed<\/span><\/b>which is recited by many Christians as their<\/span>\u00a0belief, was first<\/span> formulated by the<\/span> bishops in<\/span>\u00a0Nice<\/span>a in<\/span>\u00a0AD 325.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> Nicean Creed<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span>\u201cI believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all<\/span> that is<\/span> seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God<\/span>, eternally begotten<\/span> of the Father.\u2026\u2026.\u201d
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>In the 16th century ceramists in Nicea ( Iznik) created the most beautiful<\/span>\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>Turkish Tiles<\/b>ever madein Turkey. We will have some time to see uniqueNicean ( Iznik) Tiles before we drive to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.(B,L,D)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Day 7\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Istanbul Full Day City Tour
\n<\/b>Following the breakfast we drive to the “Old City”<\/strong>,\u00a0 we will stop by the Hippodrome <\/strong>before proceeding to the Blue Mosque<\/strong>, so called because of the impressive Iznik (Nicea) blue tiles lining its walls.<\/p>\n

Then we will go into the St. Sophia Church Museum<\/strong>. Following this stop, we will go to the Underground Cistern<\/strong>built by Justinian in 535. After lunch we will drive Chora Church Museum (The Church of Holy Savior)<\/strong> to see breathtaking frescoes and mosaics from 14th century. The church is a remarkable example of Byzantine art.
\nDinner and overnight. (B,L,D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 8\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Istanbul Departure<\/b>
\nFree till transfer to the airport. (B)<\/p>\n

For specifically interested parties, the program may include one day\u00a0visit to Patmos Island (Greece) where St. John wrote the book of Revelation.<\/span><\/strong><\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Seven Churches of the Apocalypse and Nicea \u201cI john, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom\u00a0and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the...","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4089,"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions\/4089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}