Day 1      FRIDAY 23 APRIL

We meet at St Dunstan’s Church where we celebrate Mass. We then drive to London Gatwick for our afternoon flight to Izmir. The flight time to Izmir is 4 hours. We will be met and driven directly to our hotel in Izmir (Smyrna) where we shall have dinner and one night’s stay.

Day 2      SATURDAY 24 APRIL

After breakfast we drive through this modern city up to Alexander the Great’s Citadel on Pagos Hill overlooking the bay and city and the ruins of the ancient Agora, which was one of the largest in the world. Leaving Izmir we drive to Ephesus to spend the rest of the day exploring this magnificent city and the most famous of the Seven Churches. We visit the House of the Virgin Mary where traditionally Mary spent her last days with St John. The great theatre and the commercial agora where Demetrius harangued the crowd against St Paul are in good condition. A very powerful impression is given of those heady times. Paul visited twice staying for three months on his third journey preaching in the synagogue. The Double Church of the Virgin Mary was the meeting place of the Third Ecumenical Council in 431. We visit St John’s Basilica and on our way back to our hotel we view the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. We then continue to Kusadasi for dinner and two nights’ stay.

Day 3      SUNDAY 25 APRIL

This morning we drive to Priene, the Pompei of Anatolia and the first planned city of the ancient world. Visit the Theatre, the Temple of Athena, the Prynaneum, the Agora, and the Altar of Zeus and Cybele, before proceeding to Miletus, one of the principal Ionian cities and home of Thales which was twice visited by St Paul. Visit the well preserved Theatre, the Byzantine Fortress, the Delphinion, the Nymphanion, the Bouleterion and Faustina Baths. After a break for lunch we drive to Didyma and visit the Temple of Apollo with is gigantic columns. Return to Kusadasi and our hotel in good time for dinner.

Day 4      MONDAY 26 APRIL

We travel through the mountains to destinations within a few miles of each other. Laodicea whose Christians were described by St Paul as lukewarm. Pamukkale famed partly and widely advertised for its hot springs which give a veneer of translucent crystal on the rocks they flow over, the so called “Cotton Castle”. Hierapolis, the Holy City, prospered in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The Apostle Philip lived and died here, his memory recorded in a martyrium built in the 5th century. We have lunch en route, and dinner and overnight are at the hotel in Pamukkale.

Day 5      TUESDAY 27 APRIL

We leave Pamukkale after an early breakfast and drive to Alesehir (Philadelphia). We view the few remains of the ancient city, before proceeding to Sardis the ancient capital of Lydia. During the 7th and 6th centuries BC it was the richest city in the world. Here Croesus ruled until overthrown by Cyrus. Gold washed down the mountain was collected in sheep’s skins (the Golden Fleece?) and turned into the world’s first currency. The Temple of Artemis is the most famous of Sardis’ monuments. The bazaar suggests Sardis was the first city to practise retail trade. After a break for lunch we drive to Thyatira (Akhisar) and visit, before we drive to Pergamum for dinner.

Day 6      WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL

After breakfast we spend the morning exploring Pergamum. Dating from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, it was renowned for its wealth, learning and architecture, a rival to Ephesus. The altar of Zeus, the temple of Athena, the spectacular theatre and the great library make this a memorable place. Aesclepium, the healing centre of Galen (130-200), is next. Views around the tiny harbour of Assos where St Paul met up with Luke and others are made the more impressive by the extinct volcano rising above it. The walls of Assos are said to be the best preserved from the Greek world. Homer enters our journey as we pause at Troy and its nine cities one above another. Helen, Hector, Achilles, the wooden horse, the Iliad and the Odyssey, history thousands of years old. We then continue to Canakkale for dinner and our overnight stay.

Day 7      THURSDAY 29 APRIL

We cross the Dardenelles to the Gallipoli Peninsula. What images these two names conjure up. An ill-fated venture, poorly planned and badly led, humiliated the Allies on sea and land but brought honour to the men who fought here. Our full programme will be decided nearer the time but ANZAC Cove, Suvla Bay, the Australian and New Zealand memorials and that of Mustafa Kamel should be included. And suited to our pilgrimage the timeless memorial to compassion and gallantry of a Turkish soldier carrying a wounded Australian officer back to British lines for treatment. Finally along the north shore of the Sea of Marmara to our hotel in Istanbul for three nights.

Day 8      FRIDAY 30 APRIL

A walk through the Old City, Constantinople. By the 3rd century the Emperors had largely deserted Rome for Milan or the Balkans and Byzantion renamed Constantinople became a logical place for the new capital. From 330 when Constantine was crowned here, Constantinople remained the capital for over a thousand years. Our tour will include the Byzantine Hippodrome, Great Water Cistern, the Hagia Sofia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, built in its present form by Justinian in the 6th century, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace where the treasures of the Ottoman Empire are displayed. Return to our hotel in the late afternoon for dinner.

Day 9      SATURDAY 1 MAY

After breakfast we visit the Church of St Sergius and St Bacchus, the forerunner of Hagia Sophia dedicated in 527. And later we visit the Church of St Saviour in Chora for its outstanding mosaics and frescoes. After a break for lunch we will have the opportunity of exploring the famous Grand Bazaar one of Istanbul's finest architectural gems. Returning to our hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 10      SUNDAY 2 MAY

We spend the morning relaxing with a cruise on the Bosphorus and a break for lunch and in the afternoon we depart our hotel for Attaturk Airport for our return flight to London, scheduled to arrive at Heathrow about 7:40pm which should bring us back in our private coach to Woking by about 10.00pm.