Pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece ~ March 25-April 3, 2011
Join members of Forest Hill Church Presbyterian and Pastors Clover Beal and John Lentz, Ph.D. in New Testament scriptures, along with Dr. Timothy Beal, Ph.D. in Hebrew scriptures, for a pilgrimage to the cradle of Christianity in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and Greece.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore some of the great cosmopolitan cities of the Roman Empire where the apostle Paul had great success in preaching the Gospel and where the earliest communities of Christians began to take root and flourish.
Our program is part of a series of adult continuing education and faith formation pilgrimages that began 2 years ago with a rich pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This program continues our journey and enables us to gain further insight into the historical and cultural context of early Christianity, putting people, events and places together. Local expert guides and our scholars-on-tour, Drs. Lentz and Beal, will open our eyes to some of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the world - such as Ephesus, Sardis, Pergamon, Istanbul, Corinth and Athens. Pastor Beal will guide us in worship at historical venues so that we journey in faith together with Paul and other visionary men and women of faith in the 1st century.
Inclusive Features of the Forest Hill Church Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage includes round-trip airfare from Cleveland to Izmir (Turkey), from Izmir to Istanbul, from Istanbul to Athens and then from Athens back to Cleveland. We will enjoy 8 nights in first class hotels with buffet breakfast and dinner daily. Local transportation will be in deluxe motorcoach. The program includes local guides, full-time tour manager, and entrance fees per itinerary.
Estimated Costs
$3500.00-3600.00 per person based on double occupancy
$400 estimated airline taxes/fuel surcharges/security fees
$500 supplement for single room occupancy
(For those wanting to use mileage or go early, remain later or stop en route, there will be a land-only option so that you can book your own flights into Izmir and out of Athens. This will be approximately $600 less than the combined program price. Airline taxes/fuel surcharges/security fees will not be invoiced to those taking the land-only option. Land-only option will include internal flights from Izmir to Istanbul and Istanbul to Athens.)
Reservations and Information
The Turkey/Greece Pilgrimage is open to members of Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian and their family, friends and traveling companions. To reserve a place on this pilgrimage and indicate your planned participation, please give your name and contact information to Rev. Clover Beal with $100 deposit (checks made payable to Illume) by July 31:
Rev. Clover Beal
Forest Hill Church Presbyterian
3031 Monticello
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 321-2660
pastorbeal@fhcpresb.org
A second deposit of $700 will be due September 15, 2010.
PROPOSED ITINERARY
Fri. Mar. 25, 2011: Departure from Cleveland for Izmir, Turkey.
Sat. Mar. 26: Arrival Izmir. Transfer to Kusadasi (a beautiful Aegean seaside resort) for dinner/overnight.
Sun. Mar. 27: Breakfast. Full-day visit to Ephesus - including the Museum, the Basilica of St. John, the main archaeological site (including the sloping Roman villas recently excavated). Return to Kusadasi for dinner/overnight.
Mon. Mar. 28: Breakfast. Travel to Sardis. Visit both parts of the site - including the great temple of Artemis, the restored Roman gymnasium and the large ancient synagogue. Continue on to Pergamon, visiting the healing center (the Asklepion) before checking into hotel at Dikili for dinner/overnight.
Tues. Mar. 29: Breakfast. Visit the Acropolis of Pergamon - a spectacular site set on a mountain top. Travel to Izmir, (ancient Smyrna). Stop at the small ruins in the center of town and the church of St. Polycarp. Late afternoon flight to Istanbul. Overnight/dinner in Istanbul.
Wed. Mar. 30: Breakfast. Guided visit to Hagia Sophia (the great 6th century basilica), the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Afternoon is free to visit the Grand Bazaar or other sites in Istanbul. Evening visit to a Sufi Tekke. Overnight/dinner in Istanbul.
Thurs. Mar. 31: Breakfast. We will either spend a bit more time in Istanbul with a mid-day flight to Athens or perhaps take an earlier flight to Athens and visit the Acropolis and Agora this afternoon.Overnight/dinner in Athens.
Fri. April 1: Breakfast. Day excursion to Corinth - one of the great commercial and cultural centers of the ancient world and one of the most vital early community established by Paul. Depending on time and interest - visit Epidaurus, Cenchrae and/or a Greek Orthodox monastery - Dafni - en route back to Athens. Overnight/dinner in Athens.
Sat. April 2: Breakfast. Depending on the schedule of our flight on Mar. 31 we will either visit the Acropolis, Agora and Areopagus today or perhaps schedule a day excursion to the ancient sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. Overnight/dinner in Athens.
Sun. April 3: Breakfast. Transfer to airport for our return to Cleveland
Throughout the program we will include scripture and prayer services at select sites.
Please note: This pilgrimage will require a moderate amount of physical activity. The terrain can be rough at some sites. Those with physical limitations might find this opportunity too challenging
Shortly after July 31, 2010, we will post more detailed information on an exclusive website devoted to our group at: www.travelillume.com/trc/hil
For more information, go to: www.travelillume.com/trc/hil