Religions lead civilizations · Civilizations lead the future
Seven Churches of Revelation
A pilgrimage across western Türkiye, in the order of the seven letters John was told to write.
Revelation 2–3
Seven letters, seven places
In the opening of Revelation, John is told to write what he sees and to send it to seven churches in Roman Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. The letters still sit in chapters 2 and 3. The places are towns and ruins in western Turkey.
SKY hub, in the H.I.S. travel family, arranges these routes for international travellers and for partner agencies. The tone of the journey is quiet. We do not publish prices on this site, and we do not promise what a pilgrimage will do for a person. Write to the Istanbul desk and we will answer with a proposal.
Revelation 2:1–7
Selçuk, İzmir
Ephesus
He speaks of seven stars and seven lampstands. The lampstands are the seven churches, which are expected to be bright and shining lights; the stars are their angels, or their leaders. Jesus holds these stars in his right hand: they are secure in him, and dependent on him.
The great Roman city, and the first letter.
Revelation 2:8–11
İzmir
Smyrna
Jesus is the first and the last, the one who died and came to life again. He is the alpha and the omega and everything in between. He lives in the power of endless life.
Izmir, and the church that knew Polycarp.
Revelation 2:12–17
Bergama, İzmir
Pergamon
Jesus has the sharp, double-edged sword. He is in the position of authority and power, and when he wields that authority it is a blessing for those who follow and a condemnation for those who do not.
The acropolis above Bergama, and the Red Basilica in the town.
Revelation 2:18–29
Akhisar, Manisa
Thyatira
Jesus is the one whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. He has penetrating insight and wisdom in all things. He is swift to move, and will act quickly to do what needs to be done.
Akhisar, a working city, and the longest of the seven letters.
Revelation 3:1–6
Sart, Manisa
Sardis
Jesus holds the seven spirits of God, the seven stars, and the sevenfold spirit of God. He holds those in leadership in his hands, and he provides the sevenfold graces of the spirit.
Capital of Lydia, where the letter says, Wake up.
Revelation 3:7–13
Alaşehir, Manisa
Philadelphia
Jesus is the one who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens, no one can shut; what he shuts, no one can open.
Alaşehir, and the letter of the open door.
Revelation 3:14–22
Denizli
Laodicea
Jesus is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. He is faithful to all God is, totally true, and he holds glorious authority.
The lukewarm letter, beside the white terraces.
The road
One circuit, seven cities
The letters were carried along a single postal road that looped through the province of Asia. The map follows that loop, in the order John wrote it.
- 01 Ephesus · Selçuk, İzmir
- 02 Smyrna · İzmir
- 03 Pergamon · Bergama, İzmir
- 04 Thyatira · Akhisar, Manisa
- 05 Sardis · Sart, Manisa
- 06 Philadelphia · Alaşehir, Manisa
- 07 Laodicea · Denizli
Distances are road distances. On the longer journeys the circuit extends east to Cappadocia and the steps of Paul, and south to Northern Cyprus.
A journey
Five journeys
From four days around the seven churches to a fortnight that reaches Antioch and Famagusta. Open a journey to read it day by day.
Places
Stone, water, and the road between
Hierapolis and the white terraces of Pamukkale sit beside Laodicea. Istanbul, Cappadocia and Northern Cyprus belong to the longer journeys.
Hierapolis and Pamukkale
The white terraces beside Laodicea.
02
House of the Virgin Mary
A house on the mountain above Ephesus, kept as a place of pilgrimage.
03
Basilica of St John
On Ayasuluk, above the modern town of Selçuk.
04
Hagia Sophia
The great church of Constantinople, on the Istanbul days.
05
Cappadocia
Valleys of tuff, cave churches, and a pause on the plateau.
06
Antioch and St Peter’s Church
Where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians.
07
Tarsus
The city Paul names as his own.
08
Sites in Northern Cyprus
Famagusta, Salamis, Barnabas, Kyrenia, St Hilarion, Bellapais.
Before you travel
What to know, what to eat, what to carry home
Four seasons, three currencies in practice, and a lot of walking on uneven stone. Bring shoes you can stand in all day.
Turkish cuisine is counted among the three great kitchens of the world. Every stop on the route has a dish of its own, from İskender in Bursa to künefe in Hatay.
Turkish delight, hand-knotted carpets, leather and silver have been traded along this road since the Silk Road reached Anatolia.
Contact
Write to the desk
Tell us who is travelling, the language you need, and which journey you are considering. We reply with a proposal. Prices are not listed here.
