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MTAF Faith Based Vacations Sponsoring
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Every journey tells a story—let your story begin today with a Globus Lands of the Bible vacation. With Globus you can experience many of the biblical lands. From the footsteps of Abraham and Moses to early Christianity, you'll see many of the great Old and New Testament sites and destinations first-hand. We cover Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Greece.
 Biblical Trips, 2008 Vacations
What Can You Experience?
Stories and Religious Sites
Athens In Christianity, Athens is probably best known for being the place where Apostle Paul delivered the sermon about the "Unknown God" (Acts 17:22). Scripture speaks about Apostle Paul seeing an inscription in Athens about the "Unknown God," and as such, he subsequently addressed the local people at the Areopagos and described to them the identity of this "Unknown God." Today visitors can visit the very site where Apostle Paul delivered this sermon. Key sites to visit include the Areopagus and Mars Hill where the Apostle Paul preached (Acts 17: 16-34) to the City Council
In addition to visiting Mt. Sinai, the most cherished place of pilgrimage on the Globus Journey through the Bible itinerary is Bethany Beyond the Jordan - the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus (John 1:28). Located next to the River Jordan and near the border of Israel, Bethany Beyond the Jordan is also the place where John the Baptist is said to have preached and lived in the wilderness. Another significance of the site is that according to tradition, this is the site where the Prophet Elijah ascended into heaven (2 Kings 2:5-14). This area is referred to as Tell Mar Elias, or "St. Elijah's Hill." Visitors can descend into the waters of the River Jordan; many people choose to be baptized here or renew their
baptismal promises. Bethany Beyond the Jordan is part of what is today's called the Baptism Archaeological Park, which includes a visitor center and seventeen Christian sites Religious tourism as we know it today, actually has its roots in Cairo. Here, some three to four thousand years ago, the Egyptians would hold religious festivals which brought an influx of visitors from outside the city center. Today, Cairo still remains home to several prominent religious sites. The "Hanging Church" is the most famous Coptic Christian church in Cairo, while St. Sergius Church is renowned for being the place where according to tradition the Virgin Mary and Child took refuge during their flight to Egypt. Two flights of stairs lead down from the side chapels into the oldest part of the church, the fifth century Crypt. Nearby is the altar in the form of an Early Christian tomb recess, which is said to be the
spot where Mary resided with the baby Jesus. Corinth, which is located to the west of Athens, played a prominent role in the New Testament and journeys of Apostle Paul. It is this city which Apostle Paul visited in AD 51 or 52, and spend eighteen months there in residence. He met Aquila and Priscilla and together with them ministered to the local people. In later years Apostle Paul wrote several letters to the people of Corinth; these letters are identified in the Bible as the Epistles to the Corinthinians. In his writings to the Corinthinians, Apostle Paul spoke about the challenges and joys of the Christian life, while also expounding on the teachings. Almost anyone familiar with the Bible is familiar with the Dead Sea. Geoit. The Dead Sea serves as a wonderful resort place. graphically speaking, the Dead Sea is one of the most unique places in the world, as it sits well below sea level. The Dead Sea which borders modern-day Jordan and Israel played a prominent role throughout biblical history. The body of water is referenced numerous times in Scripture under various names such as the Salt Sea. The Dead Sea is believed to be the site of five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (Bela). Today's visitor can not only view the spectacular scenery of the Dead Sea, but also float on Ephesus played a very key role in the New Testament and in the early days of Christianity. It is here where Paul preached on several occasions and he used the city as a "base." The Roman theatre is where he addressed the local people, and it is this community to which he wrote several letters or epistles. Ephesus is also known for being the site of the Third Ecumenical Council (431 A.D.), a general assembly in which Christian beliefs were affirmed and heresies exposed. Ephesus is also the place where according to tradition the Virgin Mary spent her last days, and where Apostle John is buried. Ephesus was also one of the seven cities spoken about in the Book of Revelation.
Istanbul is one of the most recognizable cities in the world, and one of the most prominent cities in Christian and Islamic history. Formerly known as Constantinople, this city served as the "center of the Roman Empire" from 330-395 and as the seat of the Byzantine Empire from 395-1453. It later served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1453-1923. The city has played a key role throughout world history due to its location of serving as the "physical crossroads" between the West and East. One of the most famous buildings in modern-day Istanbul is the Hagia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom). Once a prominent Christian church, it was later converted into a mosque, and then again in 1935 into a museum. Some label it one of the great Wonders of the World. Modern-day Iznik is located just east of Istanbul. Formerly known as Nicea, this city will forever be written in the annals of Christianity as it was the site of two pivotal Ecumenical councils (Ecumenical Councils were essentially formal gatherings of Christian leaders to address key issues facing the church). The most famous is the First Council of Nicea, which took place in 325 during the reign of Constantine. It was at this Council that today's Nicene Creed was written and adopted. It was also this Council which condemned the Arian heresy. In 787, the Second Council of Nicea took place and the topic of iconography was addressed. In addition to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the other most famous place of pilgrimage in Jordan is Mt. Nebo - the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land from (Deuteronomy 34:1-4). Today, Mt. Nebo features a memorial marking the prophet's burial site, as well as a sixth-century basilica. Religious services are often held in the church. For the visitor, Mt. Nebo offers not only breathtaking views of Israel and the "Promised Land," but also a very peaceful, revered, and reflective setting. A prominent serpent monument rises from the top of Mt. Nebo, signifying the Biblical passage where God instructs Moses to raise a bronze serpent on a pole and all who look upon it would protected from the plague. Mt. Nebo has been a place of pilgrimage for Jews and Christian since the fourth century. One of the most famous places in the Bible is Mt. Sinai, the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Biblical Mt. Sinai is considered to be located in the southern section of the Sinai Peninsula, just north of the Red Sea Resort of Sharm el Sheikh. Mt. Sinai goes by many names including Biblical Mount Horeb, Jabal Musa ("Mount Moses"), and Mount Musa. At the base of Mt. Sinai is the (Greek Orthodox) Monastery of St. Catherine, which houses some of the world's most treasured icons and ancient manuscripts - only the Vatican is said to possess a larger collection of illuminated manuscripts. Visitors can see not only the reputed site of the Burning Bush (where God appeared to Moses via the Burning Bush), but can also
walk to the summit of Mt. Sinai. The monastery chapel is said to contain the rock from which God made the Ten Commandments. St. Catherine's remains one of the oldest functioning Christian monasteries in the world. The most prominent geographical site in the Book of Revelation is Patmos Island, the place from which Apostle John wrote the last book of the Bible. Visitors can actually walk in the cave where according to tradition the Evangelist slept and wrote. The desk from which he wrote, as well as the "rock pillow" upon which he rested his head for sleep, can both be seen. This place of pilgrimage is called the Cave of the Apocalypse. The Apostle John had been exiled to Patmos Island, which is why he wrote from here. At the top of Patmos Island is the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. John. The "Seven Churches of Revelation" are the seven communities that the Evangelist John addresses and writes about in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. As John states in this letter, he writes from Patmos Island where he is exiled. In addressing the seven churches or communities, Apostle John sometimes admonishes, warns, or complements them. All seven churches are located in modern-day western Turkey. Patmos Island is located in modern-day Greece. In Revelation 1:11, Apostle John writes that he is instructed by God to write letters to each of these communities. The Seven Churches, their related messages, and Biblical chapters/verses from the Book of Revelation include:
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece, and is another city that played a prominent role in the New Testament. During his second missionary journey (49-50 AD), it is here where Apostle Paul founded a church. After his departure he later wrote two letters to the community here. Thessaloniki is also known for being the place where Apostle Paul and his companion Silas were almost attacked by the local people for betraying Caesar. Despite the trials of his time here, Apostle Paul spoke with great love and concern for the people of Thessaloniki in his epistles. Although not very well known, Um Quais is home to one of the miracles of Jesus - the miracle of the Gadarene swine. Here, Jesus expelled the evil spirits of out of two men into a herd of swine who subsequently hurled themselves into the Sea of Galilee and drowned. Today, the ruins of a fourth century basilica built at the reputed site of the miracle remain Veroia is another city in which Paul preached the Gospel. The locals here were much more open to receiving Paul and Silas, however, once word reached the Thessalonians about their whereabouts, Paul left town to avoid trouble. He did return in later years to minister to the people. The most famous Christian site in Veroia (Beroea in the New Testament) is the monument commemorating where Paul preached to the local community in 54 A.D |
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