Religious tours will be planned to suit your party's budget and time frame. You can always combine them with other areas of interest. Music, antiques or art itineraries work well with a religious tour.
For further details and suggestions, please contact IDEETRAVEL.
TRACE YOUR RELIGIOUS HISTORY IN TURKEY
Turkey is a unique country to study the history of three religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
It was here that Abraham was challenged by God. It was here that Paul heard the call to carry his message into Europe.
Turkey's geography as the juncture of two peninsulas that bridge Asia and Europe allowed many different peoples to converge upon each other. The peninsulas have been backdrop to the affairs of trade route, forum, battlefield and marketplace. The resulting struggle has produced a challenge of many new ideas, and also, a confluence of religions.
The Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sites, both past and present, are part of living traditions. Followers of each of these religions have had a special tie to the land. Examining the importance of these sites may contribute to understanding the values of all religions in their unique historical and geographical settings.
Acknowledging the close relationship of Islam to the other religions, the leaders of the Ottoman Empire and the secular Turkish Republic have officially practiced religious tolerance through the religious community and the Constitution.
JUDAISM
The northern plain of the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and the Eurphrates (Mesopotamia) in Anatolia was home to people who contributed to the earliest development of Western civilization and of Hebraic insight into the nature of God. In Genesis, Noah's family spread from the mountains of Ararat across the land. It is presumed that some members settled in the fertile plain of Anatolia.
According to the records, King Sargon II resettled over 27,000 Israelites in northern Mesopotamia in the years around 720 BC. During the time of Alexander the Great, a large number of people were encouraged to move northwestward from Palestine into the newly conquered Greek lands.
Because of the destruction of Jerusalem (AD 66-74), in particular the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, there may have been a million Jews in Asia Minor by the 2nd century.
Thirteen hundred years later, thousands of Jewish people escaped persecution during the Inquisition in Europe and were accepted as refugees by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezit II. The 500th anniversary of this event was observed both in Spain and Turkey in 1992.
Jewish denominations represented in Turkey include the Sephardis, the Ashkenazi, and the Karait. Active synagogues are located in Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Çanakkale, Iskenderun, and Kırklareli.
CHRISTIANITY
The land of Turkey has been the site of many crucial events in the history of Christianity. Followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch on the Orontes. Paul's missionary journeys took him through western Anatolia three times.
It was in Alexandria that Troas had the vision of a man appealing to him to extend his work to Macedonia. All seven Ecumenical Councils were held in western Anatolia.
As Christianity became established by the 5th century, a number of important churches were built, the foundations of which either still support new buildings or are visible as ruins.
Among the earliest known Christian communities visited by Paul are Iconium (Konya), Antioch-of-Pisidia (Yalvaç), Lystra, Derbe, Ephesus, Miletus and Alexandria Troas.
John addressed the following as the "Seven Chruches of Asia Minor: " Ephesus, Smyrna (Izmir), Pergamum, Thyatira (Akhisar), Sardis, Philadelphia (Alaşehir) and Ladicea.
There are also 1st and 2nd century references to Christian communities in Colossae (near Honaz), Philomelia (Akşehir), Sinopi,Tralles (Aydın), and Magnesia on the Meander.
St.Paul's trips and locations of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor ...
ISLAM
Migrating Turkish-speaking tribes began to convert to Islam by the end of the seventh century. Gazis, warriors of Islamic faith, colonized and settled in Anatolia in the name of Islam, especially following the defeat of the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.
The Ottomans consolidated their empire in Anatolia and Thrace after conquering the Byzantine capital Constantinople in 1453. The city was called Istanbul from the Greek phrase: "eis tin polin", "I am going to the city".
The Ottomans assumed the title of caliph and integrated religion into the government and administration. The head of the judiciary ranked directly below the sultan and was second only to the grand vizier in power.
Early in the Ottoman period, the office of Grand Mufti of Istanbul evolved into that of seyhülislam, leader of Islam. Seyhülislam had ultimate power over all the courts in the Empire and consequently exercised authority over the interpretation and application of sharia, Islamic law. Legal opinions pronounced by the seyhülislam were considered definitive interpretations.
Between 1926 and 1930, the young Turkish Republic achieved a legal transformation and introduced a secular system of jurisprudence.
BIBLICAL TOURS SAMPLE ITINERARY
IDEETRAVEL will tailor itineraries to suit your group's wishes. You may choose either an 8 or 15-day itinerary, the latter includes a 'BLUE CRUISE.'
8-DAY TRIP
Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer from airport to the hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul. D.
Day 2
Istanbul city tour. Visit Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Hipodromme.
Lunch at the Konyali Restaurant in Topkapi Palace.
Dinner in a typical Turkish restaurant. B.L.D.
Day 3
Visit a church in Taksim, Dolmabahce Palace, and Chora Church. Overnight in Istanbul. B. D.
Day 4
Bus ride to Iznik, ancient Nicaea. Iznik has a significant place in Christian history. The First Ecumenical Council in 325 and the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 were held here. Visit the ruins of the St.Sophia Church (the Seventh Ecumenical Council); in the afternoon, depart for Pergamum.
Transfer to hotel and overnight in Pergamum. B. D.
Day 5
Visit Acropolis, Temple of ATHENA; Red Basilica ASCLEPION, ancient medical center; Continue to TYHATIRA in Akhisar, an ancient merchant town related to TROY & SARDES; Visit the St. Policarp church in IZMIR.
Overnight in Izmir. B. D.
Day 6
Continue to PHILADELPHIA in ALASEHIR, the remains of a church. Visit SARDES, capital of ancient LYDIA with Temple of the Cyble & Diana.
Visit one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse and the remains of the ancient affluent City of LOADICEA, home of ZENON and Cathedral.
Arrival in Pamukkale and overnight stay. B. D.
Day 7
Wonder at the natural formations of stalactites in PAMUKKALE (=Cotton castle), the ancient city HIERAPOLIS, including its Necropolis and Theatre.
Depart for visit to Aphrodisias.
Drive to Kusadasi for overnight stay. B. D.
Day 8
A trip to EPHESUS is the highlight of the day. Visit the cradle of early Christianity: Home of Virgin Mary where she spent her final days; ruins of EPHESUS with Odeon, Fountains, Temples, Library, Great Theatre (capacity 24,000 people), and church/Stadium; St. John's Basilica & Tomb.
Overnight in Kusadasi. B. D.
The next day, transfer to Izmir International Airport for homebound flight. End of 8-day Tour
15-DAY TRIP
Day 9
Leave for Bodrum and board gullet (wooden boat). B. Seven-Day de-luxe Blue Cruise in Paul's Wake along the Turkish Riviera.
Deluxe-class cruise includes 18 meals.
Day 15
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Seven-Day de-luxe Blue Cruise in Paul's Wake along the Turkish Riviera.
