BIBLICAL PILGRIMAGE THROUGH TURKEY AND GREECE WITH AEGEAN SEA CRUISE

DAY 1 ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL Night: Istanbul +

BREAKFAST Not included

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Not included

• Welcome to Turkey, a land where history, faith and culture have been intertwined for thousands of years.
• Upon your arrival at Istanbul International Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), our Spanish-speaking representative will meet you with a personalized sign and accompany you on a private transfer to your hotel. Istanbul, the ancient Constantinople, is the gateway to one of the most fascinating biblical pilgrimages in the world. Although today it is a modern metropolis, for centuries it was the heart of Eastern Christianity and the seat of the Byzantine Empire.
• From here we will begin an extraordinary journey through the places where Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint John and the first disciples of Christ preached.
• The rest of the day is free to rest and prepare for this unforgettable Biblical Route through Turkey.
• Accommodation in Istanbul.

DAY 2 ISTANBUL / HISTORIC CENTER Night: Istanbul +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• After breakfast we will begin the tour of Istanbul, the ancient Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire for more than a thousand years and one of the main centers of world Christianity. From here a large part of the Eastern Christian world was governed and important ecumenical councils were held that defined Church doctrine.
• We will visit Hagia Sophia, built by Emperor Justinian in the year 537. For almost a millennium it was the largest cathedral in Christendom and a symbol of the Orthodox Church. Inside we will reflect on the splendor of the Byzantine Empire and the role of Constantinople as a bridge between East and West.
• We will continue to the Blue Mosque and the Roman Hippodrome, where much of the political and religious life of the Byzantine Empire took place.
• We will finish the tour at the Grand Bazaar, recalling how Istanbul was for centuries an important meeting point between pilgrims, merchants and cultures from Europe, Asia and the Holy Land.

DAY 3 ISTANBUL – PERGAMON – THYATIRA – IZMIR (SMYRNA) Night: Izmir +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• Departure early by road to Pergamon (Bergama), one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Rev 2:12-17).
• We will visit the impressive Acropolis, the ancient Hellenistic Theater, the Temple of Trajan and the Red Basilica, identified by many scholars as the place where the first Christian community of Pergamon gathered.
• We will continue to Thyatira (Akhisar), another of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, a city known as the place of origin of Lydia, the seller of purple cloth converted by Saint Paul during his mission in Philippi.
• At the end of the visits, we will continue to Izmir (Smyrna), the city where Saint Polycarp exercised his ministry, a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist and one of the Apostolic Fathers of the Church.
• Dinner and accommodation in Izmir.

DAY 4 IZMIR – SARDIS – PHILADELPHIA – LAODICEA – PAMUKKALE Night: Pamukkale +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• After breakfast we will visit the historic city of Izmir and the Church of Saint Polycarp. Our pilgrimage will continue to Sardis, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Lydia and one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse.
• We will then visit Philadelphia (Alaşehir), one of the two churches that received only words of praise in the message of the Apocalypse.
• We will continue to Laodicea, one of the most important Christian cities of Asia Minor, famous for the message directed by Saint John: "Because you are neither cold nor hot..." (Rev 3:15-16).
• Finally we will arrive at Hierapolis and Pamukkale, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hierapolis is known for having been the place of martyrdom of the apostle Saint Philip, whose tomb was discovered by archaeologists in this ancient city.
• Dinner and accommodation in Pamukkale.

DAY 5 PAMUKKALE – EPHESUS – HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY – BASILICA OF SAINT JOHN Night: Kusadasi +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• We will visit the extraordinary city of Ephesus, considered one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world. We will tour the Library of Celsus, the Marble Street, the Great Theater — where Saint Paul preached — and the main monuments of this city that played a fundamental role in the expansion of Christianity.
• We will continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, where, according to Christian tradition, the Virgin spent her last years under the care of Saint John the Evangelist. This sanctuary has been visited by several Popes and is one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in the world.
• The day will end with the visit to the Basilica of Saint John, built over the tomb of the apostle who wrote the Gospel of Saint John and the Book of the Apocalypse.
• Dinner and accommodation in Kusadasi.

DAY 6 EMBARKATION IN KUSADASI – PATMOS, THE ISLAND OF THE APOCALYPSE Night: On Board +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Lunch included on the cruise

DINNER Dinner included on the cruise

• Transfer to the port to board Celestyal Cruises.
• In the afternoon we will arrive at Patmos, known worldwide as the Island of the Apocalypse, where the apostle Saint John the Evangelist received the revelation of the last book of the New Testament.
• Visitors may visit the Cave of the Apocalypse, where tradition places the writing of the sacred text, and the historic Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, one of the most important spiritual centers of Orthodox Christianity.
• Full board and accommodation on board.

DAY 7 RHODES Night: On Board +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included on the cruise

LUNCH Lunch included on the cruise

DINNER Dinner included on the cruise

• In the morning, arrival at the historic island of Rhodes, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• During the stay, you will have the opportunity to take an optional excursion through the impressive Medieval City, surrounded by its imposing walls and fortifications built by the Order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who established their headquarters here between the 14th and 16th centuries with the purpose of protecting Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land.
• The tour includes the Palace of the Grand Master, the famous Street of the Knights, ancient Byzantine churches and the historic port from which numerous expeditions set out to the eastern Mediterranean.
• Free time to stroll through the old town, visit its churches and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this city that combines Christian, Byzantine and medieval traditions.
• Return to the ship.
• Full board and accommodation on board.

DAY 8 HERAKLION (CRETE) – SANTORINI Night: On Board +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included on the cruise

LUNCH Lunch included on the cruise

DINNER Dinner included on the cruise

• Arrival at Heraklion, capital of the island of Crete, mentioned in the New Testament as the place where Saint Paul left Titus to organize and strengthen the first Christian communities of the island, giving rise to the historic Church of Crete.
• Passengers may take an optional excursion to visit the legendary Palace of Knossos, considered the center of the Minoan civilization, one of the oldest cultures in Europe, or tour the historic center of Heraklion with its churches, Venetian fortresses and traditional squares.
• In the afternoon, sailing towards the spectacular island of Santorini, famous for its impressive volcanic cliffs, its characteristic white houses with blue domes and its unforgettable views over the Aegean Sea.
• Free time to stroll through the picturesque villages of Fira and Oia, admire one of the most famous sunsets in the world and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this jewel of the Greek archipelago.
• Return to the ship.
• Full board and accommodation on board.

DAY 9 ATHENS, THE AREOPAGUS AND MYKONOS Night: On Board +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included on the cruise

LUNCH Lunch included on the cruise

DINNER Dinner included on the cruise

• Arrival at the port of Athens, cradle of democracy and one of the most important cities for the history of early Christianity.
• An optional excursion will be offered to discover the legendary Acropolis, where the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the main monuments of ancient Athens stand out.
• One of the most significant moments of the pilgrimage will be the visit to the historic Areopagus (Mars Hill), where Saint Paul delivered his famous sermon about the "Unknown God" (Acts 17:22-34), inviting the Athenian philosophers to learn about the message of Jesus Christ. This episode represents one of the most important events in the evangelization of the Greco-Roman world.
• After the visit, return to the ship to continue sailing to Mykonos, one of the most iconic islands of the Aegean Sea.
• Free time to stroll through its charming cobblestone streets, discover its traditional white churches, the famous windmills and the picturesque Little Venice neighborhood, enjoying the charm and hospitality of this Greek island.
• Return to the ship.
• Full board and accommodation on board.

DAY 10 KUSADASI – DISEMBARKATION – FLIGHT TO ISTANBUL Night: Istanbul +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included on the cruise

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• After breakfast we will disembark in Kusadasi.
• Transfer to Izmir airport to take the flight to Istanbul.
• Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
• Accommodation in Istanbul.

DAY 11 DEPARTURE FROM ISTANBUL Night: End of services +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH -

DINNER -

• Breakfast.
• At the indicated time, transfer to Istanbul International Airport to take the return flight.
• End of this unforgettable pilgrimage through Turkey and Greece, following in the footsteps of Saint John the Evangelist, Saint Paul and the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, a unique journey that combines faith, history, archaeology and spirituality in the places where Christianity was born and spread.