Turkey with Dr. Matthew Harding - May 2025

Our journey begins as we board our overnight connecting flight to Istanbul. Meals served on board.

Upon arrival in Istanbul we meet our guide and travel to our hotel near Taksim Square, the bustling heart of modern Istanbul. We dine and overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast we begin our tour of Istanbul. Previously known as Byzantium and Constantinople, the city of Istanbul is 2,600 years old. First, we visit the beautiful Rustem Pasha Mosque with its 2,300 colored tiles designed by Mimar Sinan, a prolific Ottoman imperial architect. Next we treat our senses to the nearby Spice Bazaar in Eminönü. Words cannot describe the extraordinary experience of walking through this three-century-old covered market. We enjoy a stroll through the Hippodrome (a public arena for sporting and social events since 203 AD) in the Old City.

We tour the legendary Hagia Sophia (originally known as Megale Ekklesia or “Great Church”), the symbol of Constantinople and Istanbul. From the 6th century to the 15th century, Hagia Sophia served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and the seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Today it is a museum, where 12 centuries of beautiful mosaics are on display. Next we stop at the 15th-century Topkapi Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years. We conclude our day with shopping at the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. The bazaar, which first opened in 1461 AD, comprises over 60 streets and welcomes up to 400,000 visitors each day to its maze of banks, cafés, fountains, shops, shrines, and workshops. We then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today after an early breakfast, we ferry southwest across the Sea of Marmara to the Port of Bandirma. From there we drive to the ancient town of Thyatira, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation praised for its increasing faith but admonished for its tolerance of Jezebel (Revelation 2:18:28). Next we travel a brief route south to Sardis, where we explore the white marble Royal Road, the massive Temple of Artemis, the Bath-Gymnasium, and the famous Sardis Synagogue (Revelation 3:1-6). Here at the synagogue, ongoing archaeological expeditions by Harvard and Cornell Universities have unearthed over 80 Greek and 7 Hebrew inscriptions as well as numerous mosaic floors, making this one of the most significant synagogues of antiquity.

Continuing on, we visit the modern town of Alasehir (ancient Philadelphia) for a heartwarming tour highlighting the church that received God’s highest commendation (Revelation 3:7-13). Here we see remains of a Byzantine basilica with 11th-century frescoes. In the evening we travel to the modern city of Denizli, where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we are off to visit Pamukkale (“cotton castle”) and dip our feet in the thermal waters that flow down the hilltop’s unique white travertine terraces. At the summit we explore the archaeological remains of Hierapolis, a significant site of early Christianity thanks to Paul’s missionary efforts here (Colossians 4:13). We stroll among a number of important ruins, including well-preserved Roman structures such as the town theatre and the Temple of Apollo.

Next we continue on to Laodicea. This city was one of the Severn Churches whose inhabitants were chastised by the apostle John for being “neither cold nor hot” (Revelation 3:14-22). Here we see the site’s well-preserved stadium, gymnasium, and theatres, giving us insight into the city’s former prominence. We then drive to Kusadasi, a beautiful resort town on the coast of the Aegean Sea, where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today we are off to explore Ephesus. Located in the modern town of Selcuk, ancient Ephesus is one of the most well-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. Originally an ancient Greek Ionic city built in the 10th century BC, Ephesus grew to be one of the largest metropolises in the Roman Empire. Ephesus also played a vital role in the spread of Christianity. Starting in the first century AD, notable Christians such as Paul and John visited and rebuked the cults of Artemis, winning many Christian converts in the process (Acts 19:8-10). Mary, mother of Jesus, is thought to have spent her last years in Ephesus with John, who was entrusted with her care.

We walk on the Marble Road, passing numerous historically rich sites including the Temple of Artemis, the Trajan Fountain, and the Temple of Hadrian. We also see the Library of Celsus and sit in the largest surveying theatre of the Roman period, capable of entertaining up to 25,000 spectators. This was the site of an uprising provoked by a merchant named Demetrius against Saint Paul and his teachings (Acts 19:23). We stop at the ruins of Saint John’s Basilica; constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century, this basilica stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle. We return to our hotel in Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

This morning we drive to the thriving modern city of Izmir and visit the ruins of ancient Smyrna, another of the Seven Churches (Revelation 2:811). It was here that the apostle John relayed a promise from God: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). We continue on to Pergamum, one of the most powerful and wealthy cities in the ancient world. In the book of Revelation, the risen Christ instructed John to convey the message that the people of Pergamum, the site of “Satan’s throne,” needed to repent (Revelation 2:12-17).

Afterwards, we tour the Acropolis of Pergamum, the pagan temples, and the Altar of Zeus. We test the acoustic phenomenon of the Great Theatre, which could entertain 10,000 spectators in its day. We also view the remains of the famous Library of Pergamum before continuing to Canakkale, where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we drive to the village of Tevfikiye near the entrance of the Dardanelles to see the remains of the legendary city of Troy. Settled as early as 3000 BC, Troy was made famous by Homer’s Iliad. Afterwards, we cross the Dardanelles by ferry and head to Istanbul for dinner and overnight.

This morning we begin our journey home, rejoicing in our unforgettable experiences in Turkey. Our hearts are full; we visited the Seven Churches of Revelation, and we will never be the same (Numbers 6:24–26).

Our journey begins as we board our overnight connecting flight to Istanbul. Meals served on board.

Upon arrival in Istanbul we meet our guide and travel to our hotel near Taksim Square, the bustling heart of modern Istanbul. We dine and overnight in Istanbul.

Today we embark on a cruise of the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia and connects the Black Sea with the inland Sea of Marmara. We enjoy views of old wooden mansions, Ottoman palaces, and ancient fortresses on the coast before we disembark in Asia. Here we visit 19th-century Beylerbeyi Palace, a summer residence for Ottoman sultans. Next we relish an impressive view from Çamlıca Hill, the highest point in Istanbul. From the top we can see the Bosphorus Bridge, the Eminönü Peninsula, the Sea of Marmara, the Princes’ Islands, and as far as Mount Uludag near Bursa. We then drive across the bridge back to Europe and return to our hotel in Istanbul for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we take a brief flight from Istanbul to Hatay, the southernmost part of Turkey, and touch down in the region of our earliest Christian ancestors. We start with a visit to the city of Antakya (Antioch) and visit the Mosaic Museum, which features the world’s second largest collection of classical and Roman mosaics. Next we head to the Church of Saint Peter, a cave carved into the side of Mount Starius where the first Christians of Asia Minor worshipped. We also see Seleucia Pieria, the ancient port from which Paul and Barnabas embarked on their missionary journeys (Acts 13:4) and the beginning of Christian missions. After having traveled around the northeast corner of the Mediterranean, we check into our hotel in the city of Adana for dinner and overnight.

Today we drive to the provincial town of Tarsus, the birthplace of Paul the Apostle (Acts 9:11, 21:39, 22:3). We visit the Well of Saint Paul and the Gate of Cleopatra, then head north to Cappadocia (first mentioned in the Bible in the events of Acts 2). Along the way we stop at Pigeon Valley to enjoy a panoramic view of the region’s “fairy chimney” rock formations before checking into our hotel in Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.

This morning we visit Kaymakli Underground City, an impressive subterranean settlement used by early Christians for safety and protection. The complex descends nearly 300 feet underground and was capable of housing 3,000 people. Next we’re off to explore the Göreme Open Air Museum. We visit Ortahisar’s gorgeous valleys and stop at the famous Three Beauties rock formation. We traverse through the rock houses and chapels in the valley of Zelve, then explore the tower-shaped hermitages in Pasabag Valley. We end our day at a potter’s studio in Avanos, a town established by the Hittites (Joshua 1:4; Judges 1:26) on the banks of the Halys River, before returning to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.

Today we leave Cappadocia for Konya, a 2-day journey by foot when it was traveled by the apostle Paul. First we reach ancient Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas boldly preached the Gospel despite persecution (Acts 14:1-3). Next we head to the city center of Konya and visit the Mevlâna Museum, which houses the tomb of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, 13th-century Persian poet and founder of the Order of the Mevlevi (also known as the Whirling Dervishes). We end our day at Karatay Madrasa, founded in 1251 by the Seljuk vizier Emir Celaleddin Karatay as an institution for Islamic studies. Today the building is a museum showcasing beautiful examples of Seljuk tile work. We check into our hotel in Konya for dinner and overnight.

We depart Konya this morning and head to Yalvaç to see the ruins of Antioch in Pisidia, once a major Roman colony visited by Paul on his first missionary journey with Barnabas (Acts 11:19-26; also the location of the conflict between Paul and Peter in Galations 2:11-14). Antioch was the mission headquarters of the apostle Paul, and it is here that followers of Jesus were first referred to as Christians. We visit the Yalvaç Archaeological Museum, then continue on to Antalya, Turkey’s largest international sea resort on the Mediterranean coast, where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we head to the archaeological site of Perge, a chief city of Pamphylia that was visited twice by Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:13-14, 14:25). We explore Perge’s extensive ruins, including a well-preserved theatre, the Agora, Roman baths, the necropolis, the Greek and Roman gates, and more. While the ruins and vast history of Perge are remarkable, the fact that we are walking where the apostle Paul walked is the most stunning aspect of this visit. Next we are off to the ancient Greco-Roman city of Aspendos to see one of the best preserved theatres in this world, still in use to this day and capable of seating over 17,000 people. Here we also see the ruins of a basilica, agora, nymphaeum, Roman aqueduct, and the Roman Eurymedon Bridge before returning to our hotel in Antalya for dinner and overnight.

This morning we begin our journey home, rejoicing in our unforgettable experiences in Turkey. Our hearts are full; we visited the Seven Churches of Revelation, and we will never be the same (Numbers 6:24–26).