Acts 2 · 15 days · Izmir – Istanbul

From Pentecost to Nicaea – A Bible Journey to the First Four Councils

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”John 17:21

15 days14 nights

IzmirStart

IstanbulEnd

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Where does the creed come from that Christians all over the world still confess today? The answer leads to the land between the Aegean and the Bosphorus. Here lay the churches to which John and Paul wrote; here lived the first bishops after the apostles; and here four councils wrestled over how rightly to speak of Christ, of the Father and of the Holy Spirit.

The journey begins in Smyrna, where Polycarp gave his life for Christ, and leads to all seven churches of Revelation, to Miletus with Paul’s farewell address, and to Hierapolis, the city of Papias. Through Phrygia and Lycaonia you continue to Cappadocia, where Basil and the two Gregorys thought through the doctrine of the Trinity.

The tour concludes at the council sites themselves: the Church of Mary in Ephesus, the walls of Nicaea, the shore of Chalcedon and the Church of St Irene in Constantinople. A state-licensed tour guide carefully places Bible, archaeology and tradition in context; every day has its key text. Christians of all denominations are welcome – and expressly so are travellers without any theological background.

The Bible reading path

Passages you will read on site

Acts 2:5–11Izmir (welcome evening)

The Pentecost list: Asia, Phrygia and Cappadocia – the regions of the days ahead.

Rev 2:8–11Smyrna

The poor yet rich church – and the crown of life for the faithful.

Rev 2:12–17Pergamum

Faithfulness in the place “where Satan’s seat is” – below the acropolis with the foundation of the Altar of Zeus.

Rev 3:7–13Philadelphia

The open door that no man can shut – in front of the piers of the Church of St John.

Rev 2:1–7; John 1:14Ephesus

The first love and the Word made flesh – at the site of the council of 431.

Acts 20:17–38Miletus

Paul’s farewell address to the elders of Ephesus, read at the ancient harbour.

Rev 3:14–22Laodicea

Neither cold nor hot – beside the water pipes with their limescale deposits.

Col 1:15–20Colossae

The hymn to Christ: the image of the invisible God – on the city’s settlement mound.

Acts 13:44–49Antioch in Pisidia

A light to the Gentiles – at the place where Paul turned to the nations.

1 Pet 1:1–9Göreme

The strangers in Cappadocia and the lively hope – among the rock-cut churches.

Matt 25:31–40Kayseri

What you have done unto the least – in the city of Basil’s Basileias.

John 1:1–14İznik

“In the beginning was the Word” – the text that was wrestled over at Nicaea.

Phil 2:5–11Chalcedon

He who was in the form of God took upon him the form of a servant – on the shore of Kadıköy.

John 15:26; John 14:26Hagia Irene

The Comforter who proceedeth from the Father – at the site of the council of 381.

Tip: bring your own Bible – at each place we open the relevant passage together.
Bible quotations: King James Version.

Day by day

Itinerary

Day1

Arrival in Smyrna – Pentecost and the crown of life

Izmir Airport → Smyrna (Izmir)

Your tour guide welcomes you at Izmir Airport, in ancient Smyrna. If you arrive by early afternoon, you will visit the agora today, whose halls were rebuilt after the earthquake of 178, and look out over the gulf from Mount Pagus. The second letter is addressed to Smyrna: a poor yet rich church to which Christ makes no reproach. Its bishop Polycarp, according to Irenaeus a disciple of the apostle John, died a martyr in the city’s stadium around 155; murals in the Church of St Polycarp commemorate him. At the welcome evening you read the Pentecost list: already in Jerusalem, people from Asia, Phrygia and Cappadocia heard Peter preach – the very regions through which this journey leads.

Acts 2:5–11Rev 2:8–11Overnight: Izmir

Day2

Pergamum and Thyatira – faithful where Satan’s seat is

Izmir → Pergamum → Thyatira → Salihli

You ride the cable car up to the acropolis of Pergamum. Above the steepest theatre of antiquity stand the Trajaneum and the foundation of the Altar of Zeus, whose frieze can be seen today in Berlin. Where was “Satan’s seat”, of which the letter speaks? Interpreters think of this altar, of the imperial cult, for which Pergamum received the province’s first temple, or of the Asclepieion, which you visit next. After the Red Hall, into which a church was later built, you drive on to Thyatira. In the middle of present-day Akhisar you read the longest of the letters and remember Lydia, the seller of purple from this city, who became the first person baptised in Europe, at Philippi.

Rev 2:12–17Rev 2:18–29Acts 16:14Overnight: Salihli

Day3

Sardis and Philadelphia – the open door

Salihli → Sardis → Philadelphia → Ödemiş → Tire → Kuşadası

Early in the morning you stand in the marble court of the gymnasium of Sardis. Right next to it lies the largest known synagogue of the ancient Diaspora – a sign of how strong the Jewish community was here. Below the acropolis, which Cyrus and later Antiochus III took by surprise despite its reputation, rise the columns of the Temple of Artemis; at its corner stands a small church from around 400. The letter calls the church to watchfulness. At midday you reach Philadelphia, present-day Alaşehir, where the piers of the Church of St John stand. Here you read of the open door that no man can shut. In the afternoon the road climbs over the Bozdağ, the Tmolus of antiquity, then down to Ödemiş and via Tire to the Aegean.

Rev 3:1–6Rev 3:7–13Overnight: Kuşadası

Day4

Ephesus – the council of 431, the Basilica of St John and Meryemana

Kuşadası → Meryemana → Ephesus → Selçuk → back to Kuşadası

The day begins on the Bülbüldağ at the chapel of Meryemana, venerated since the 19th century as the house of Mary; your tour guide places this late tradition honestly in context, and you read Jesus’ words from the cross to John. Then you walk down Curetes Street, past the Library of Celsus to the great theatre, where the silversmiths raged against Paul. Near the silted-up harbour lies the Church of Mary. Here in 431 the council met that held fast against Nestorius: the son of Mary is the eternal Son of God, the Word made flesh. In the afternoon you stand in Selçuk in Justinian’s basilica above the traditional tomb of John and read the letter to the church that had left its first love.

John 19:25–27Acts 19:23–40Luke 1:39–45John 1:14Rev 2:1–7Overnight: Kuşadası

Day5

Priene, Miletus and Didyma – farewell to the elders

Kuşadası → Priene → Miletus → Didyma → Kuşadası

In Priene, the planned city on the slopes of Mycale, the calendar inscription was found that hailed the birthday of Emperor Augustus as the beginning of good tidings for the world. Against this background you read the opening sentence of Mark: the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Miletus you see the seat inscription for Jews and “God-fearers” in the theatre and look out over the silted-up harbour area. Here Paul called the elders of Ephesus to him and committed to them the flock which God has purchased with his own blood. In the afternoon you stand before the gigantic Temple of Apollo at Didyma. According to Lactantius, Diocletian sought counsel here before persecuting the Christians in 303 – twenty-two years before Nicaea.

Mark 1:1Acts 20:15–38Acts 17:24–25Overnight: Kuşadası

Day6

The churches of Ignatius, Aphrodisias and Laodicea

Kuşadası → Magnesia → Tralles → Aphrodisias → Laodicea → Pamukkale

The day belongs to the churches to which Ignatius of Antioch wrote around 110 on his way to martyrdom in Rome. In Magnesia on the Maeander you stand among the remains of the Temple of Artemis and read from his letter to the Magnesians. At Tralles, where the arches of the gymnasium stand above Aydın, your tour guide recalls his confession: Christ was truly born, truly suffered and was truly raised. At midday comes Aphrodisias, with the Sebasteion and an inscription naming Jews and “God-fearers”. In the afternoon you reach Laodicea. Beside the calcified water pipes you read the letter to the lukewarm church and the word of the Lord who stands at the door and knocks.

Rev 3:14–22Col 4:13–16Overnight: Pamukkale

Day7

Hierapolis and Colossae – Philip, Papias and the hymn to Christ

Pamukkale → Hierapolis → Colossae → Pamukkale

Through the vast necropolis you enter Hierapolis and climb up to the octagonal Martyrium of St Philip. In the church beside it, Italian archaeologists in 2011 uncovered a tomb that had been venerated as Philip’s since antiquity. As early as around 190, Bishop Polycrates of Ephesus named this city as his burial place; in his account the apostle and the evangelist with the prophesying daughters merge – your tour guide makes this clear. Here you read Philip’s request: “Lord, shew us the Father.” At the theatre you hear of Papias, who preferred listening to the living voice of the apostles’ disciples to reading books. In the afternoon you stand on the mound of Colossae and read the hymn to the image of the invisible God.

John 14:8–9Acts 21:8–9Col 1:15–20Phlm 10–16Overnight: Pamukkale

Day8

Through Phrygia to Antioch in Pisidia

Pamukkale → Dinar → Antioch in Pisidia → Eğirdir

From Pamukkale the road climbs past the salt lake Acıgöl into the highlands of Phrygia, already named in the Pentecost list. Where Dinar stands today, Apamea once lay at the springs of the Maeander; 3rd-century coins from here show an ark bearing the name of Noah – a local tradition showing how early biblical stories were known in Phrygia. At midday you reach Antioch in Pisidia. Between the Temple of Augustus and the main street you read the sermon that Paul preached in the synagogue on the Sabbath. At the foundations of the Basilica of St Paul follows the end of the chapter: when many contradicted, Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles, and the word spread. In the evening you reach Eğirdir on the lake.

Acts 13:14–41Acts 13:44–52Overnight: Eğirdir

Day9

Iconium and Sille – through much tribulation into the kingdom of God

Eğirdir → Konya → Sille → Sultanhanı → Cappadocia

You set off early and drive via Beyşehir into the wide plain of Lycaonia. At the Alaeddin Hill in Konya, the heart of ancient Iconium, you read how Paul and Barnabas preached here in the synagogue until an attempt was made to stone them. On their way back they strengthened the disciples: through much tribulation into the kingdom of God. In the rocky valley of Sille you visit the church that tradition traces back to the Empress Helena, and hear of Thecla of Iconium, a figure of the apocryphal Acts of Paul. Later Amphilochius, a friend of Basil who took part in the council of 381, was bishop of this city. After a break at the Sultanhanı caravanserai you reach Cappadocia in the evening.

Acts 14:1–7Acts 14:21–22Acts 16:1–2Overnight: Cappadocia

Day10

Cappadocia – rock-cut churches and the three great Cappadocians

Göreme → Derinkuyu → Güzelyurt → Ihlara Valley → Göreme

In the Göreme Open-Air Museum you enter rock-cut churches of the 10th and 11th centuries whose frescoes tell the life of Jesus. Before these walls you read Peter’s greeting to the strangers in Cappadocia and the word about the living stones. In the underground city of Derinkuyu you descend several storeys deep into the tuff. Tradition links Güzelyurt with Gregory of Nazianzus, the great preacher of the Trinity. In the afternoon you walk through the Ihlara Valley, where monks carved churches into the rock walls. In the evening your tour guide tells how Basil, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory of Nazianzus spoke of the one essence of God in three persons, and so prepared the way for the council of 381.

1 Pet 1:1–91 Pet 2:4–5Heb 11:36–38Acts 2:9Overnight: Cappadocia

Day11

Basil’s Caesarea – and Ancyra in the land of the Galatians

Cappadocia → Kayseri → Ankara

At the foot of Mount Erciyes you reach Kayseri, ancient Caesarea. Basil was bishop here from 370 to 379. Outside the city he founded the Basileias, a hostel for strangers, the poor and the sick, which Gregory of Nazianzus called a “new city”; nothing of it is visible any more, but here you read Jesus’ words about the least of his brethren. In the Armenian Church of Surp Krikor Lusavoriç you remember Gregory the Illuminator, who was consecrated in Caesarea. Then the long drive leads across the plateau to Ankara. At the Temple of Augustus, later a church, you hear that Constantine had first summoned the council of 325 to meet here, and read from the Epistle to the Galatians.

Matt 25:31–40Gal 3:26–28Overnight: Ankara

Day12

To Nicaea – the council of 325 and our common creed

Ankara → Bilecik → İznik

A long day of driving leads via Eskişehir and Bilecik to Bithynia, the land into which the Spirit did not allow Paul to go. In the afternoon you reach İznik, ancient Nicaea. Here in 325, at Constantine’s invitation, several hundred bishops gathered; tradition speaks of 318. Against Arius they confessed the Son as “of one substance” with the Father – the Word that was in the beginning with God and was God. In the Hagia Sophia, today a mosque, a further council met in 787. From the lakeshore you look at the foundations of a church discovered under water in 2014. In the evening you say together the Creed that had its beginning here and received its present form in Constantinople in 381.

Acts 16:6–8John 1:1–14John 10:301 Cor 8:6Overnight: İznik

Day13

Across the gulf to Chalcedon – the council of 451

İznik → Yalova → ferry → Kadıköy (Chalcedon) → Istanbul

In the morning you walk along the gates of Nicaea, through which the council fathers of 325 once passed. Via Yalova you reach the car ferry, which takes you across the Gulf of İzmit in a few minutes. At midday you stand in Kadıköy, ancient Chalcedon. According to Herodotus, a Persian general is said to have called the Chalcedonians “blind” because they overlooked the finer site opposite, where Byzantium later arose. In 451 more bishops met here than at any earlier council. They confessed the one Christ, true God and true man – without confusion and without division. In front of the Church of St Euphemia you read the hymn to Christ from the Epistle to the Philippians. In the late afternoon the city ferry carries you across to Europe.

Phil 2:5–11Col 2:91 Tim 3:16Overnight: Istanbul

Day14

Constantinople – the council of 381 and the Church of the East

Sultanahmet → Hagia Irene → Chora Church → Phanar

At the Hippodrome the obelisk recalls Emperor Theodosius, who summoned the bishops to Constantinople in 381. You visit the Hagia Sophia, a mosque again since 2020, and the Church of St Irene, where according to tradition the council met. It confirmed Nicaea and confessed the Holy Spirit, who proceedeth from the Father – in the words of John 15. In the Archaeological Museum stands the warning inscription from the Temple in Jerusalem, a reminder of the wall of partition that Christ has broken down. In the afternoon you see in the Chora the image of the risen Christ pulling Adam and Eve from their tombs, and in the Phanar the church of the Ecumenical Patriarch with relics of Gregory of Nazianzus. At the farewell dinner you give thanks for the journey from Pentecost to here.

John 15:26Acts 21:27–29Eph 2:14Eph 4:4–6John 14:26Overnight: Istanbul

Day15

Departure from Istanbul

Istanbul → Istanbul Airport

Depending on your flight time, there is still time in the morning for a last walk through the Old City or a look at the Bosphorus. Then the transfer takes you to Istanbul Airport in about an hour. You take with you what has come together in these two weeks: the churches of Revelation, the witnesses of the first generations after the apostles and the places where the Church found its confession of Christ. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today. If you would like to stay longer, you can extend with a few days in Istanbul, in Bursa or on the Princes’ Islands.

Heb 13:8

The route

On the map

1Izmir Airport2Izmir (Smyrna)3Pergamum4Thyatira (Akhisar)5Salihli6Sardis7Philadelphia (Alaşehir)8Ödemiş9Tire10Kuşadası11Ephesus & Selçuk12Priene13Miletus14Didyma15Magnesia on the Maeander16Tralles (Aydın)17Aphrodisias18Laodicea19Hierapolis (Pamukkale)20Colossae21Dinar (Apamea)22Antioch in Pisidia23Eğirdir24Konya (Iconium)25Sille26Sultanhanı27Göreme28Derinkuyu29Ihlara Valley30Kayseri (Caesarea)31Ankara (Ancyra)32İznik (Nicaea)33Yalova ferry34Kadıköy (Chalcedon)35Istanbul36Istanbul Airport

Inclusions & price

What the tour price includes

Price on request

The tour price depends on dates, group size and room allocation. You will receive your personal offer – free of charge and without obligation.

Enquire →

⛔ No shopping stops: carpet, jewellery or leather showrooms are not part of this tour.

Included

14 nights in good mid-range and 4-star hotels with half board
All journeys by air-conditioned coach, airport transfers in Izmir and Istanbul
Car ferry Topçular – Eskihisar and city ferry Kadıköy – Eminönü
State-licensed tour guide
Entrance fees as per the programme
Welcome and farewell evening

Not included

Flights
Lunches and drinks
Tips
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Optional excursions, e.g. balloon ride in Cappadocia

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What did the first four councils decide?

Nicaea 325 confessed the Son as of one substance with the Father; Constantinople 381 confirmed this and confessed the Holy Spirit; Ephesus 431 held fast to the unity of the person of Christ; Chalcedon 451 confessed him as true God and true man. Their decisions are recognised by Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches.

Do I need any theological background?

No. Your tour guide explains the background in an accessible way, and every day has its Bible text, which is read on site. Those who want to go deeper will find room for questions in the evening discussions.

How demanding is the tour?

Days 3, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are long driving days with four to over six hours of actual driving time. In Ephesus, Hierapolis and the Ihlara Valley you walk on uneven paths and steps; a normal level of fitness is sufficient.

Can Hagia Sophia and Chora be visited?

Yes, both are mosques today and open to visitors outside prayer times. Please wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees; women need a headscarf.

When is the best time to travel?

April to June and September to October. In high summer it is very hot on the Aegean and in Laodicea; in winter there is often snow in Cappadocia and on the mountain passes.

Is the flight included in the tour price?

No. You fly into Izmir and out of Istanbul; please choose an outbound flight arriving by early afternoon. On request we will look into a suitable connection for you.

How much does the tour cost?

The price depends on the date, group size and room allocation. After your enquiry you will receive a personal quotation – free of charge and without obligation.

In which language is the tour guided?

A state-licensed tour guide accompanies you – in English or in any of 25 languages. We have been guiding guests since 1989.

Enquiry & booking

Enquire about this tour

From Pentecost to Nicaea – A Bible Journey to the First Four Councils

From Pentecost to Nicaea – A Bible Journey to the First Four Councils

Passages you will read on site

Itinerary

Arrival in Smyrna – Pentecost and the crown of life

Pergamum and Thyatira – faithful where Satan’s seat is

Sardis and Philadelphia – the open door

Ephesus – the council of 431, the Basilica of St John and Meryemana

Priene, Miletus and Didyma – farewell to the elders

The churches of Ignatius, Aphrodisias and Laodicea

Hierapolis and Colossae – Philip, Papias and the hymn to Christ

Through Phrygia to Antioch in Pisidia

Iconium and Sille – through much tribulation into the kingdom of God

Cappadocia – rock-cut churches and the three great Cappadocians

Basil’s Caesarea – and Ancyra in the land of the Galatians

To Nicaea – the council of 325 and our common creed

Across the gulf to Chalcedon – the council of 451

Constantinople – the council of 381 and the Church of the East

Departure from Istanbul

On the map

What the tour price includes

Price on request

Included

Not included

Frequently asked questions

Enquire about this tour

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