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Why Turkey?Most Catholics understand the importance of the Holy Land, the land where Jesus walked, and of Rome and the Vatican, the historic center of Roman Catholicism. But many of us do not realize that even in New Testament times, the centers and major events of the early Church were in the land that was then called Asia Minor (now Anatolia, the Asian part of Turkey). Look at the maps of the missionary journeys of St. Paul in your Bible. The seven churches addressed in the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) were in western Turkey, as was the home of the Virgin Mary’s and St. John the Evangelist. The “Greeks” referred to throughout the New Testament were inhabitants of this land even more so than today’s Greece, and there were many Jewish communities there as well, some of them prosperous and influential. We can learn a lot by exploring how the pagans, Jews, and early Christians lived together and interacted. I've heard about "Footsteps of St. Paul" tours and pilgrimages. Is that what you're doing?We will not be “following the footsteps” of St. Paul, as some pilgrimages advertise; instead, we will be crossing his path at several significant places. Also, we will not visit all Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation, as some pilgrimages make a point to do. Instead, we will visit the five most significant of them. In addition to biblical events, Turkey is also the land where the first seven ecumenical councils were held, at a time when bishops. theologians, emperors, and laity struggled together (and not always peacefully!) to understand biblical revelation about the nature of God and the meaning and mission of Jesus Christ as times and cultures changed. This is also the land where holy men and women over many centuries developed ways of living deeply spiritual lives in times not only of peace and prosperity but also of war, conquest and violence. In visiting the lands where they lived and walked, we will touch their spirit as well. This pilgrimage will give us as Catholics the opportunity to deepen our understanding of our relationship with Greek Orthodoxy and Islam today. The future of Christian unity has to focus on beginning to mend the thousand-year division between Roman Catholics and the Greek Orthodox. For this very purpose, Pope Benedict XVI went to Turkey last November, 2006. And, the future of the whole world may well depend on how we western Christians learn to understand and relate to the Muslim world, and vice versa. How much do you know about either Islam or Greek Orthodoxy? Here’s your chance to find out more. From the fourth to the fifteenth centuries, the center of Greek/Byzantine Christian life and culture was in present-day Turkey. Constantinople (Istanbul) remains today the seat of the Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch. For the next five hundred years, the Muslim world was dominated by the Ottoman Empire, centered in Turkey. Turkey, now a modern secular state with a 99% Muslim majority, preserves the remnants of these ancient Christian and Muslim cultures, and provides us with a unique opportunity to experience our own cultural and religious heritage in the light of a long and fascinating history. The holy and hisorical stuff is great, but will we have fun too?The trip will also be fun, visiting new and fantastic locations and tasting the richness of the life of these two countries. There will be time for leisure, shopping, and entertainment. The hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia is not to be missed! The food is good, the hotels are clean and comfortable, and in some places even elegant. Turkey maintains one of the finest and cleanest fleets of tour buses anywhere. Nevertheless our trip will be primarily a pilgrimage. The sites we will visit have been chosen because of their place in our Christian heritage as well as their contribution to our understanding of the challenges to our faith today. Both prayer and learning will play an important part in our journey. We will celebrate Mass whenever possible and pray in significant places. In addition to the informative talks given by our guide, I will frequently speak about the significance of various locations and events for our Catholic faith. Our wonderful guide, Mr. Aydin Eroglu is a devout Muslim who loves his country, and understands appreciates our faith, and the nature of this pilgrimage. Why are we going in April?It’s simply the very best time of year to go. Winter is cold, wet, snowy and dreary. Summer is too hot in most places and overrun with tourists. (This past year, even May was uncomfortably hot in many places.) In both fall and spring the weather is near perfect, and the “tourist season” is not so intense. Spring has the edge over fall simply because the fields and forests are green and beautiful, and the flowers are in splendid bloom everywhere. Just like California. (And, just like California, fall is, well, brown and dull.) For some, it may take extra planning to get away at this time, but it will be well worth the effort. For those for whom the time is still impossible, I apologize, and . . . perhaps another year. I have been to Turkey (and Greece) three times now: in the fall of 2000 with a group of priests from Los Angeles, in May of 2005 on a study tour, and again this past spring, leading the first Early Christian World Pilgrimage. There are so many treasures in these countries that speak to us of our Catholic foundations, and I am looking forward to sharing them with you! Why aren’t we going to Greece?Greece is lovely and wonderful, historic, impressive and fascinating, but last year’s pilgrimage made is clear that we just can’t do it justice in the few days that would be possible on a tour like this. By not going to Greece, we are saving almost a whole week, making it more accessible for people whose time might be limited. While Greece is famous for many great historical and cultural sites, there really is much more to see in Turkey that’s new and surprising, as well as important for the purposes of this pilgrimage. (It’s also a lot more expensive than Turkey.) Is it safe?Yes, very safe. That said, the world situation being what it is, is anyplace really safe? I believe the risks are substantially lower in Turkey than in many other popular travel destinations, including the major cities of Europe, which are terrorist targets more frequently than anywhere in Turkey, and even the United, which has one of the world’s highest crime rates. While Turkey is surrounded by dangerous neighbors (just look at the map), it has a strong western outlook, and is very welcoming to American visitors. A strong military and police force ensure a high level of public safety and low crime rate. (But still, watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas!) Food and water are safe, hotels are clean and modern, and there is no need for extra immunizations or safeguards in any of the areas we will be traveling. (Ask your doctor just to be sure.) Am I healthy enough for the trip?Only you can judge that. But be aware that this is not a leisurely sightseeing vacation. It is a pilgrimage that will involve a lot of walking over uneven ground. We will maintain a fairly rigorous pace from 8:00 in the morning until evening nearly every day. Why do we have to make our own travel arrangements to and from Istanbul? Why isn’t it included as part of the pilgrimage?I thought long and hard about this. Based on the experience of this past year’s trip, and after consultation with our local travel agent, I came to the conclusion that everyone would be best served by negotiating your own travel arrangements. For example, you may want to break up the trip, stopping at other places on the way there or back. You may want to leave earlier or stay a few days longer longer. You may desire a more comfortable but more expensive journey, e.g. departing from Ontario rather than LAX. Roger at Claremont Travel can make your travel arrangements for you, especially if some of you would like to travel together, but you are also free to make your own arrangements, including online services. Transportation between the airport and the hotel in Istanbul is easy, safe, and cheap. How much will it cost in all?In addition to the basic cost of the pilgrimage, $2050 per person double occupancy (add $450 for a single room), plan on your round-trip airfare to Istanbul, which may range from about $1,200 to $1,700, depending on your desired flight carriers and times. (You can make your flight arrangements through Claremont Travel or on you own.) The basic cost includes hotel, bus and air transportation inside Turkey, two meals a day, admissions to most sites, and the guide, as well as most tips. Tips for the guide, bus driver, and meals on your own will be extra, as well as certain optional events, such as a fabulous early morning hot-air balloon ride in Cappadocia (about $200). The most convenient way to handle money exchange is through ATM machines, which are everywhere – and safe. We will talk a lot more about expenses as we prepare for the trip. I’m interested. What do I do now? We’re taking reservations now.
Please fill out the registration form and return it with your deposit
to Roger Pendery at Claremont Travel, 325
Yale Ave., Claremont, 91711; 909-621-3947 (CST#1019961) For more informatin,
contact Fr. Tom Welbers (909-626-3596), twelbers@olaclaremont.org.
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