Day 2 - Izmir - Pergamon - Thyatira - Sardis - Philadelphia - Hierapolis (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we enjoy a short city tour of Izmir--the ancient Smyrna--with a visit to one of the oldest continually-used churches of the revelation, and a visit to Mount Pagus, the site of the martyrdom of St. Polycarp. We next drive to Pergamon to visit the Asklepion and the acropolis, the theater, the temple of Athena and the Altar of Zeus, which St. John denounced to Pergamon church members as a “Throne of Satan.” After lunch,we continue to Thyateira, whose church  members were commended for their “steadfastness against libertarianism,” which was viewed as a constant threat to the Christian church. We continue on to Sardis, the capital of ancient Lydia which also ranked as one of the Seven Sister Churches and as a center of importance for various religious groups. Here  we visit the temple of Cybele and Diana (which later became a Church), the beautiful synagogue, and the gymnasium. From Sardis we continue on to Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love founded during the reign of Attalus II. Our excursion takes us on to Hieropolis, and finally Pamukkale where we check into our hotel for our dinner and overnight stay.