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The day has arrived and we will depart The Bridge Community Church by motorcoach. We will make our way to Detroit Airport (DTW) and begin our overnight journey to Greece!
Today we arrive in Greece at Thessaloniki Airport (SKG). Upon arrival we will be greeted by our guide and/or driver, who will bring us to our hotel. Overnight Thessaloniki. Lazart or similar. D.
We will visit the port city of Kavala, which in the Bible is called Neapolis, where Paul first made landfall on the European continent after receiving his vision of the Macedonian man. We will see the port and a mural dedicated to Paul’s arrival here. Paul left Neapolis and went to Philippi; we will follow in his footsteps to Philippi, where we will see the spring where Lydia was baptized after she trusted in Christ as a result of Paul’s preaching. We will also see the ruins of the ancient city, where Paul exorcised a demon-possessed girl, stood trial at the city’s bema, and was imprisoned until a earthquake broke the prison open. We will see the city’s agora, bema, and the prison where it is believed that Paul was held.. Overnight Thessaloniki. Lazart or similar. B, D.
We will tour Thessaloniki, where Paul came and preached the Gospel until he caused a riot. We will visit both the Upper Town, including the traditional house of Jason, and the Lower Town, including the White Tower. We will visit Berea, where Paul went after leaving Thessaloniki. We will visit a platform dedicated to Paul’s preaching to the Bereans. In the afternoon we will fly from Thessaloniki to Athens (ATH). Overnight Athens. Marriott or similar. B, D.
Today we tour Athens, including Mars Hill, where Paul famously preached in Acts 17. We will also visit the nearby Acropolis, where we will see, among other things, Athens’ iconic Parthenon. We will visit Corinth, where Paul spent an extended period of time and to the church at which he wrote 1 and 2 Corinthians. We will see among other things the archaeological museum, the Temple of Apollo, and the bema where Paul was tried before Gallio. Overnight Athens. Marriott or similar. B, D.
Today we will fly from Athens to Izmir, Turkey (ADB). Depending upon the flight time, we will enjoy free time in Athens and/or Izmir. Overnight Izmir. Hilton Garden Inn or similar. B, D.
Today we will visit ancient Smyrna, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Ancient Smyrna is at the place of the modern city of Izmir, and not many of its ruins have been excavated. We will see the city’s ancient agora, before moving on to Pergamum, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. We see the remains of the ancient library, the theater, the temples, the place of the altar of Zeus, the Sanctuary of Demeter, the Gymnasium, and the Asclepium. We also visit the Red Basilica. As we view the city’s various places of worship of false gods, we will get a sense of why Jesus called Pergamum the city “where Satan lives” (Revelation 2:13). Overnight Izmir. Hilton Garden Inn or similar. B, D.
Today we visit ancient Sardis, the site of another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. The archaeological site contains the Lydian Citadel, a Temple to Artemis, and the largest known synagogue of the ancient world. We visit Thyatira and Philadelphia, two more of the Seven Churches of Revelation. In Sardis you can see scattered ruins, including columns and stone fragments. The ruins of Philadelphia are largely covered by the modern city of Alasehir, but some ancient construction is visible. Overnight Pamukkale. Pam Thermal or similar. B, D.
Today we visit Laodicea, another of the Seven Church of Revelation. Here you can see traces of ancient streets, a basilica, and remnants of ancient columns and arches. Thyatira was once a wealthy city, famous for its purple-dyed wool industry. We visit Ephesus, where Paul lived and to the church at which he wrote the epistle to the Ephesians. The Apostle John also lived in Ephesus. Ephesus today is one of the best-preserved and most impressive cities from the ancient world. We will see the Library of Celsus, the theater where the citizens of Ephesus rallied against Paul, and more. Overnight Kusadasi. Charisma DeLuxe or similar. B, D.
Today we will travel by charter boat to the island of Patmos. The Apostle John was exiled on the island of Patmos, and it is here that he received the visions that now constitute the book of Revelation. We will see the Monastery of St. John and the Cave of the Apocalypse, where it is believe that John received his visions. Overnight Kusadasi. Charisma DeLuxe or similar. B, D.
Today we will transfer to the airport in Izmir (ADB) and begin our journey home. If time allows, breakfast is included today. Either way, later today we will arrive back in Detroit (DTW). From here we will be taken by coach back to The Bridge Community Church.
