Core 650 Tour: Early Christianity in Greece & Turkey with Jonathan and Stacey Moo

June 13-29, 2026

A Pilgrimage Through the Lands of the Apostles and the Early Church

Walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, St. John and the earliest followers of Christ. This immersive journey through Greece and Turkey invites you into the heart of the biblical world. Discover sacred sites, explore ancient cities mentioned in Scripture, and reflect on the roots of Christian faith in the very places where it first took hold.

Along the way, you'll stand in the places where Paul preached and planted churches – Athens, Corinth, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Ephesus – and reflect on the courage and faith of early believers. You'll explore other unforgettable sites of the classical, biblical and early Christian world, including Delphi; the island-like rock pillars of Meteora's monasteries; cities addressed by John in the Book of Revelation; and the extraordinary modern city of Istanbul, once known as Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.

Through expert local guides and Whitworth's own faculty, this journey offers a time of spiritual formation, community and learning.

Travel Details

Arrival Airport: Athens Airport (ATH) – Anytime on Sunday, June 14
Departure Airport: Istanbul Airport (IST) – Anytime on Monday, June 29

Day 1 – Saturday, June 13

Departure from the U.S.
Begin your pilgrimage by flying overnight to Athens, Greece.

Day 2 – Sunday, June 14

Arrival in Athens

• Private transfer to hotel in the Plaka district, beneath the Acropolis
• Time to rest or explore the neighborhood
• Welcome dinner and group orientation

Overnight in Athens – Divani Acropolis Hotel

Day 3 – Monday, June 15

Paul in Athens: Reasoning at the Areopagus (Acts 17)

• Visit the Acropolis, Parthenon and Acropolis Museum
• Explore the Ancient Agora, where Paul reasoned with philosophers
• Devotional reflection on Paul's Mars Hill sermon

Overnight in Athens

Day 4 – Tuesday, June 16

Corinth: Letters to a Divided Church (Acts 18; 1 and 2 Corinthians)

• Drive to Corinth, with a stop at the Corinth Canal
• Explore the ancient city of Corinth, including the bema seat
• Return to Athens; optional visit to the Daphni Monastery or National Archaeological Museum

Overnight in Athens

Day 5 – Wednesday, June 17

Delphi and the Journey North

• Visit Delphi, one of the most important pagan sites of the ancient world
• Reflect on the clash of worldviews between pagan prophecy and gospel truth
• Afternoon stop at Thermopylae battlefield en route to Meteora

Overnight in Meteora – Divani Meteora Hotel

Day 6 – Thursday, June 18

Meteora: Faith Anchored in the Heavens

• Morning visit to the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora, a later Christian witness
• Afternoon at leisure for rest or personal reflection

Overnight in Meteora

Day 7 – Friday, June 19

Berea and the Word-Rooted Church (Acts 17:11)

• Visit Vergina to see the Royal Tombs and museum
• Explore Berea, known for its Scriptural devotion
• Evening arrival in Thessaloniki, where Paul preached to both Jews and Greeks

Overnight in Thessaloniki – Makedonia Palace Hotel

Day 8 – Saturday, June 20

Thessaloniki: Suffering and Hope (1 and 2 Thessalonians)

• Explore the Roman and Byzantine sites of Thessaloniki, including the Rotunda and ancient city walls
• Free afternoon for personal exploration or journaling
• Dinner in a local restaurant

Overnight in Thessaloniki

Day 9 – Sunday, June 21

Philippi and the First European Converts (Acts 16)

• Visit Philippi, where Paul and Silas were imprisoned
• Stop at Lydia's Baptismal Site, the first recorded European believer
• Continue to Alexandroupolis for dinner

Overnight in Alexandroupolis

Day 10 – Monday, June 22

Crossing into Asia Minor: Troy and Cultural Memory

• Cross into Turkey via the Gallipoli Peninsula
• Visit the legendary city of Troy and the Troy Museum
• Evening rest in Canakkale

Overnight in Canakkale – Kolin Hotel

Day 11 – Tuesday, June 23

Following Paul's Route Through Asia Minor (Acts 20)

• Visit Alexandria Troas, where Paul had a vision of a man calling him to Macedonia
• Explore Assos, where Paul journeyed on foot
• Dinner on your own in Ayvalik or nearby Cunda Island

Overnight in Ayvalik – D-Resort Murat Reis

Day 12 – Wednesday, June 24

Pergamon and Sardis: The Seven Churches of Revelation

• Morning visit to Pergamon's Acropolis and the Asclepion (healing temple)
• Visit Sardis, home to one of the Seven Churches (Revelation 3:1-6)
• Evening arrival in Pamukkale

Overnight in Pamukkale – Colossae Thermal Hotel

Day 13 – Thursday, June 25

Laodicea and Hierapolis: Lukewarm or Living Water? (Revelation 3:14-22)

• Morning visit to Hierapolis and St. Philip's martyrdom site
• Visit Laodicea, another of the Seven Churches
• Afternoon visit to Aphrodisias, a well-preserved Greco-Roman city

Overnight in Kusadasi – Charisma Hotel

Day 14 – Friday, June 26

Ephesus: Gospel Boldness in the Face of Empire (Acts 19; Ephesians)

• Tour the remarkable ruins of Ephesus, including the theater and Celsus Library
• Visit the Basilica of St. John and the Temple of Artemis
• Time for reflection on Paul's long ministry in this city

Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 15 – Saturday, June 27

To Constantinople: The Church and Empire

• Flight from Izmir to Istanbul
• Visit the Church of St. Savior in Chora, known for its mosaics
• Tour the Topkapi Palace and its harem quarters

Overnight in Istanbul – Kalyon Hotel

Day 16 – Sunday, June 28

Christian Roots in the Heart of Byzantium

• Visit the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Underground Cistern
• Enjoy a private Bosporus cruise
• Farewell dinner and time of shared reflection

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 17 – Monday, June 29

Return Home

• Transfer to Istanbul Airport for your return flight
• Carry home memories, insights and a deeper connection to Scripture and community

What's Included?

• All accommodations
• All indicated meals with bottled water (daily breakfast, plus nine lunches and 11 dinners)
• All airport transfers, ground transportation and one domestic flight (Izmir to Istanbul)
• Professional, English-speaking guides
• All excursions, entrance fees, gratuities and tips

Exclusions

• International flights, alcoholic beverages, visa and personal expenses

Tour Costs

Our tour company quotes prices in euros, so we reserve the right to adjust the costs as necessary depending on the exchange rate. Also, international flights may come in less once we can book them.

College credit is available upon request and for an additional fee.
 
Your deposit of $2,500 per person (checks only, please) will hold your space. Deposits will be refundable before Nov. 1.
 
Please send your deposits to:

Whitworth University Core 650 Tour
c/o Institutional Advancement
300 W. Hawthorne Road
Spokane, WA 99251

Contact Information

Call or email Tad Wisenor at 509.777.4401 or twisenor@whitworth.edu.

We hope you'll join us for this once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage of faith and discovery!