The tour will include art, architecture, museums, churches, monasteries, mosques, and lectures pertaining to ancient sites that shed light on biblical texts and early Christianity. Women’s history will be included. Contact with Muslims and Orthodox Christians will enrich student’s experiences. Ancient history and international travel open one to respect human dignity and diversity. People grow intellectually and emotionally by contact with arts, religions, and cultures different from their own. This leads to building justice and peace in the world.

The web pages are the first part of the study guide. Follow each link to prepare for visiting in that area and focusing on associated content. One of the texts for the class will be the chapters on Greece and Turkey in Sister Martha Ann’s forthcoming book, Women of Bible Lands: Pilgrimage to Compassion and Wisdom. Other readings will include the Bible; an atlas of ancient, biblical, and modern maps; selected sources on art of Greece and of Turkey.

SOME OF THE LECTURES AND SITE VISITS WILL INCLUDE:

-An introduction to Pre-classic, Classic, and Hellenistic Greek; Roman; Byzantine; Islamic; and Ottoman art and architecture.
-The rich traditions of Greek Orthodox icons, “visible theology” and monastic life, a path of deep joy.
-The vibrant tradition of the Islamic faith in Turkey which bridges east and west.

BIBLICAL, EARLY CHRISTIAN, AND WOMEN’S HISTORY
Early Biblical History in Turkey: Abraham and Sarah lived in Haram. Their son Isaac’s wife Rebecca was from there. Genesis 24 Isaac and Rebecca’s son Jacob lived there, married Leah and Rachel. They had eleven of their twelve sons there.

Christian Biblical writing associated with Turkey:

Paul’s first missionary journey in 46-48 C.E.: Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium in Galatia, Lystra, Derbe. See Acts of the Apostles 13:13 - 14:28

Paul’s second missionary journey in 50-52: Crossed Turkey, revisiting Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia, then traveling to Troas on the Agean Sea. After time in Greece, Paul returned to the Turkey area and visited Ephesus and the island of Rhodes. Acts 16:1 – 11,

Paul’s third missionary journey in 53-57: Crossed Turkey, spent two years in Ephesus,
Acts 18:18 – 19:40 went to Greece, Acts 20: 1- 5 on the way back to Palestine stopped in the Turkey area of Miletus. Acts 20:13 – 37.

Paul’s fourth journey taken to Rome as prisoner in 59: Stop at Myra and the island of Cnidos. Acts 27.

Seven of the Epistles seem to directly come from Paul during the period of 50 to 60 C.E. and there are six more Epistles that are ascribed to him. He died in about 65.

Ephesians, the letter attributed to Paul written to the people of Ephesus.

Galatians, the letter by Paul to the people of Galatia.

Revelations, ascribed to John, seems to be written in about 95 C.E. by a church elder from Asia Minor who was sent as a convict of exile on the island of Patmos. This is apocalyptic literature which tries to give hope to those who are having hard times by showing that good triumphs over evil. The writing uses names and images as coded messages that only insiders would understand. Revelations has letters to seven churches of Asia Minor: Ephesus, Symrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

See Women of Bible Lands: a Pilgrimage to Wisdom and Compassion by Martha Ann Kirk (coming in Spring 2004 from Liturgical Press)
We will not have time to visit each of the cities mentioned below, but will read about the wealth of religious history in each country.

Chapter 13, Greece and the Mediterranean Island:
Aegina: St. Athanasia of Aegina
Athens: The Areopagus on the Acropolis. Paul’s preaching on the “unknown God,”
Acts of the Apostles 17:28
Cencrae: the ancient seaport of Corinth: Phoebe, Romans 16:1-16
Corinth: Priscilla, Nympha, and the women prophets of Corinth, Acts 18:1-4
Delphi: Athanasia, a deaconess
Lesbos: St. Theokitiste of Lesbos
Philippi in Macedonia near modern Kavala: Lydia, Evodia, and Synthche,
Philippians 4:1-9Chapter 14, Turkey
Annisa in Cappadocia, modern Aamaysa: St. Macrina
Constantinople, modern Isbanbul: Olympias, a deaconess. The Empress Theodora.
St. Elisabeth the wonder-worker. Women mentioned by Paul
Chalcedon: St. Euphemia
Iconium, modern Konya: Lois and Eunice, II Timothy 1:1-8
Nuseybin, Nisibus: St. Febronia
Selucia, Silifke: St. Thecla
Ephesus, Selçuk: Acts 19:23-40, Mary as Theotokos, Legends of the House of Mary
Haram: Rebecca, Genesis 24:10-28
Thessalonica, Salonica: Sts. Agape, Chione, and companions.
St. Theodora of Thessalonike
Urfa or Edessa: Egeria, the Pilgrim

Most art and architecture through the ages has been associated with spirituality and religions. Religions in trying to help humans explore mystery, use space, images, symbols, movement, and sound. Art, architecture, music, and ritual have been the ways that humans have approached the invisible Divine. All on the tour will encounter masterpieces of architecture, sculpture, and painting. All will learn some texts and contexts of ancient religions, and of Judaism and Christianity which have grounded and inspired people through the ages. The rich spiritual and artistic traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church will be explored.This pilgrimage focuses on both Art History and Religious Studies.