Steve and Janet Ray Visit the sites of the real St. Nicholas Göreme Open Air MuseumHagia Sophia

Turkey—the 2nd Holy Land

Main trip: April 17-28, 2016 y Extension: April 28-May 2, 2016

Footprints of St. Paul, St. John, Mary & St. Nicholas through

Fr. Joseph Marquis

Sacred Heart Byzantine Catholic Church &

St. Nicholas InstituteSteve & Janet Ray invite you on pilgrimage

open to everyone

Steve Ray Turkey PilgrimagePlanned Tentative Itinerary*

You will be accompanied every day by Steve & Janet Ray along with their excellent Christian local guide.

Day 1: April 17, 2016 y Depart USA

Day 2: April 18, 2016 y Arrive Turkey: The 2nd Holy Land | IstanbulArrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, where you are met by your hosts, Steve & Janet Ray. Board your motorcoach to visit the exotic Spice Market (time permitting). Transfer to your hotel for Welcome Dinner. Opening Mass. Overnight in Istanbul. (D)

Day 3: April 19, 2016 y Cathedral St. Esprit | Blue Mosque | Hagia Sophia | Istanbul (Ancient Constantinople)Arrive at the Cathedral of St. Esprit Church for morning Mass. Visit to the renowned Blue Mosque, famous for the blue Iznik tiles decorating its interior. A short walk will bring you to the magnificent Hagia Sophia Church (now a museum) built in the 6th century — the world's largest church for over 1,000 years. Afternoon free. Dinner at your hotel and overnight in Istanbul. (B|L|D)

Day 4: April 20, 2016 y St. Anthony Padua Church | Chora Church| Bosporus Tour | IstanbulCelebrate Mass at St. Anthony Padua Church. Board your private boat on the Bosporus Strait where you will sail between two continents, Europe and Asia, enjoying the beautiful Yali Houses. After lunch, visit ancient Chora Church with magnificent mosaics and frescoes. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B|D)

Day 5: April 21, 2016 y Istanbul | Nicea | BursaCheck out of your hotel and drive to Bursa. On the way visit Nicea, home of the First and Seventh Ecumenical Councils, to see the remains of a church from the Byzantine times. It was here that Christ's divinity was upheld and from where we received the Nicene Creed we recite at Mass. Steve's talk on the Councils and the nature of Christ. Celebrate Mass. Dinner and overnight in Bursa. (B|D)

Day 6: April 22, 2016 y Bursa | Pergamum | IzmirCheck out of your hotel and drive to Bergama (biblical Pergamum), another of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 2: 12-17). Take the cable car to the top of the mountain to visit the Acropolis and see the remains of the Altar of Zeus, believed to be the throne of Satan referred to in the Bible. Steve's talk on Pergamum. See also the steepest theater in the world, and the remains of the famous Temple of Trajan. Drive to Izmir and celebrate Mass at St. Polycarp Church, followed by Steve's talk on St. Polycarp. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B|D)

Day 7: April 23, 2016 y Izmir | Ephesus | IzmirIzmir is the third largest city in Turkey. In ancient times, known as Smyrna, it was one the Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation (Rev 2: 8-11) and the site of the meeting between St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Polycarp in 106 AD, and also the place Bishop St. Polycarp was martyred. In the morning, drive to Ephesus, one the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev 2: 1-7). The Blessed Virgin Mary spent the later years of her life here. Enjoy elegant lunch at Sultankoy Carpet Weaving Center, with a demonstration of the famous art of Turkish carpet weaving. After lunch, visit the House of Mother Mary. Celebrate Mass at Mother Mary’s House, followed with a visit to St. John’s Basilica to venerate the tomb of St. John the Evangelist, Jesus' beloved disciple. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B|L|D)

Day 8: April 24, 2016 y Izmir | Sardis | Philadelphia | PamukkaleCheck out of your hotel and drive to Pamukkale. En route, visit Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Celebrate Mass at Sardis (Rev 3: 1-6). Then, continue on to Philadelphia, one of the Seven Churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation (3:7-13). Transfer to Pamukkale for check in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B|D)

Day 9: April 25, 2016 y Pamukkale | Laodicea | Colossae | PamukkaleVisit biblical Hierapolis (Pamukkale), famous for its snow-like landscape, which has been formed by mineral deposits from the thermal springs in the area. Visit the tomb of St. Philip. In the afternoon, visit the church of Laodicea and town of Colossae to which St. Paul wrote during his ministry. Celebrate Mass at Laodicea (pending government approval). Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B|D)

Day 10: April 26, 2016 y Pamukkale | Myra | Antalya Check out of your hotel and drive to Myra, where Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) was a bishop. Visit the Cathedral Church where he worked and is buried. Following the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the tomb of St. Nicholas in Myra, pilgrims will be blessed with the Manna of St. Nicholas (Manna is pure liquid that has flowed from the bones of St. Nicholas for 17 centuries). Drive to Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B|D)

Day 11: April 27, 2016 y Antalya | Perge | Antalya MuseumAfter breakfast, drive to Perge where St. Paul preached after arriving from Cyprus and where St. Mark abandoned him (Acts 13:13). In the afternoon, visit Antalya Museum. See the Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) exhibit. Mass at your hotel. Farewell Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B|D)

Day 12: April 28, 2016 y Departure | Antalya to USACheck out of your hotel and transfer to Antalya Airport for your departure back to USA, or begin the Extension Tour.

EXTENSION TOUR: APRIL 28 - MAY 2, 2016 | 4 NIGHTSDay 1: April 28, 2016 | Antalya | Pisidian Antioch | Cappadocia Celebrate Mass in Pisidian Antioch (biblical Galatia) where St. Paul visited numerous times (Acts 13-14) (pending government approval). See remarkable ruins and a church dating from the Roman times. Lunch and some free time in the afternoon en route to Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (B|D)

Day 2: April 29, 2016 | Cappadocia | Uchisar | CappadociaCappadocia, a unique land resembling a lunar landscape, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site - home to early Christian monks who escaped from the pagan persecutions in Asia Minor. Celebrate Mass at the First Cave Church built in the 2nd century BC. Proceed to Goreme Open Air Museum to see remarkable frescoes painted by the early Christian monks on the walls of the cave churches. Next drive to Kaymakli Underground City to see how these monks carved underground cities to protect themselves from the Arabic raids. Visit Uchisar, a natural rock citadel. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (B|D)

Day 3: April 30, 2016 | Cappadocia | Tarsus | Hatay (Antioch) Check out of your hotel and depart Cappadocia. Visit Tarsus, birthplace of St. Paul. Visit the foundations of the house where St. Paul lived with his parents. Visit the Church of St. Paul for Mass. Continue on to Hatay (biblical city of Antioch; Acts 11 and 15). Dinner and overnight in Hatay. (B|D)

Day 4: May 01, 2016 | Hatay | St. Peter’s Church Saints Peter and Paul met in Hatay (Antioch) where the early “Followers of the Way” were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26). Celebrate Mass in the Cave of St. Peter, the very first Christian Church (Acts 13: 1-4). Then, proceed to the Hatay Archaeological Museum. Farewell Dinner and overnight in Hatay. (B|D)

Day 5: May 02, 2016 | DepartureCheck out of your hotel and transfer to Hatay Airport for your departure back to USA