Turkey celebrates year of St Paul

Celebrations to mark the 2000th anniversary of the birth of St Paul kick off in June and Turkey, being the Saint’s birthplace, is gearing up to host a series of events through to June 2009. Turkish tailor-made tour specialist Anatolian Sky Holidays is expecting a surge in interest in places with a connection to St Paul. He travelled extensively throughout Turkey so these include areas as diverse as Tarsus, Cappadocia, Adana, Antakya and Ephesus.

To meet this demand, Anatolian Sky has just added a "Footsteps of St Paul" itinerary to its popular tailor-made programme:

The Journeys of St. Paul
Ancient Anatolia, the land which is now Turkey, was one of the first places where Christianity spread. The early Christians were persecuted by the Jews and fled Palestine, setting up communities in places such as Antioch, present-day Antakya. Paul of Tarsus, who became St. Paul, was one of the first preachers of the new religion, having himself undergone a stunning conversion on the road to Damascus.

Paul was introduced to the church in Antioch by Barnabas, and from here he set off on his first apostolic journey (44-49 AD) which took him to Seleucia, Cyprus and then back to Perge, Antioch in Pisidia (Yalvaç), Iconium (Konya), Derbe, Attalia (Antalya) and back to Antioch. He travelled by foot and by boat, teaching his religion as he went, and attempting to convert his listeners. A year later he set off on his second journey (50-53 AD) heading for Macedonia and establishing churches in Philippi, Thessalonika and Beroea before traveling on to Athens and Corinth, returning to Antioch by boat via Ephesus.

During his third journey (54-58 AD) he spent three years in Ephesus preaching and instructing those Jews and Pagans who joined the fold in the ways and beliefs of the new religion of Christianity. Whilst he was here he wrote some of his famous letters or epistles to other Christian communities, including to the Corinthians and the Romans. Having spent two years under arrest in Jerusalem, Paul was freed and travelled back to Rome where he was arrested, sentenced to death and beheaded in 61 AD.

Book as a small group (8 pax) on your own escorted tour for 10 nights from £1499 and 14 nights from £1689. All prices are per person and include full board accommodation in hotels of a 3/4 star standard (with packed lunch), guide, air-conditioned minibus transfers, entrance fees and flights. Self-drive tours for two cost from £1299 per person.

Scheduled flights depart from Manchester, London Heathrow or London Stansted.

To book and for further details visit Anatoliansky.co.uk.