Greetings from Antioch of Syria

Greetings

Everyone is safe and sound in Antioch of Syria

I am sorry I was not able to post sooner my computer is not working and the internet was very slow at the last hotel where we stayed for 2 nights

I will try to update more later/

John Wineland
Antioch of Syria
Turkey

Theater at Hıerapolıs

The falls at Pammukale

Greetings from Hierapolis

Greetıngs

My computer power pack ıs not workıng so I am usıng the hotel access whıch must be used only by standıng up at keyboard. Also I do not see any way to upload pıctures. Anyway I wıll do the best I can.

Thıs mornıng we left Kusadası and drove to the wonderful sıte of Aphrodisıas. Thıs sıte has a very nıce theater and was home to a school of sculpture. The best thıng about the sıte ıs the well preserved stadıum. We had a 'charıot' race there.

Then we had a wonderful lunch at the Anatolıan restaurant. We drove on to Colossae to vısıt the sıte of the unexcavated mound. Paul wrote a letter to the church of thıs cıty.

After thıs we drove to Laodıcıa to vısıt our last cıty mentıon ın Revelatıon. The sıte has been excavated for the past 6 years wıth extensıve ruıns

Fınally we drove to Pammukale the Cotton Falls whıch has whıte falls wıth pools of blue water. Next to thıss sıte ıs Hıerapolıs whıch has a wonderful theater and extensıve cemetery for all of the people who came to be cured ın the hot sprıng water. Even gladıators are burıed at the sıte.

We are stayıng at a nıce hotel tonıght.

Tomorrow we go on to Pısıdıan Antıoch and Konya (ancıent Iconıum)

All ıs well here ın Turkey

John Wıneland
Hıerapolıs Turkey

Views from Patmos

The harbor of Patmos, Greece

Mosiac Image of John at the Monastery on Patmos

Greetings from Kusadasi, Turkey

Group Picture on the Ferry Crossing the Aegean Today

Greetings,

Today we left the hotel quite early and traveled by a privately chartered ferry to the Greek Island of Patmos. The ride took about 3-4 hours over, and 3-4 hours back and we spent about 3 hours on the island.

Patmos is the island where Apostle John was exiled during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian. We visited the traditional spot where John received the Revelation. It is in a cave which was later made into a Greek Orthodox Chapel.

Then we traveled up to the monastery dedicated to John and visited the Greek Orthodox chapel which is 900-1000 years old. After this visit we also viewed the museum of the monastery. The highlights of the museum were a 5th century manuscript of the Gospel of Mark, and an 8th century illuminated text of Job (both in Greek). Also the museum has on display a painting by El Greco.

Later we enjoyed lunch and a nice boat ride back to Kusadasi, Turkey. The weather was beautiful. We had sunny skies and deep blue water.

We returned to the hotel about 7:00pm and had dinner outside by the pool at 8pm.

Our hotel overlooks the marina of Kusadasi which is on the Aegean Sea.

John Wineland

Kusadasi

PS I am having some trouble with my computer so this might delay some posts in future

Greetings from Kusadasi, Turkey

The large theater at Ephesus where the crowd rioted as recorded in the Book of Acts.

Dr. Poe is dying to rest after a hard day

Fragments of the Hugh Statue of Domitian

Hello Everyone,

Everyone is safe and sound here in Kusadasi. This morning we left Izmir and traveled to the amazing site of Ephesus.

Our first stop was at the House of Mary, high in the hills above the city. This was a quiet and peaceful place with many trees and a small chapel built over the site of an early house which many identify with the house of Mary.

Then we visited the site of Ephesus. This Greco-Roman has extensive runs. We started at the upper end of the site and visited the Odeon and made our way down the Curetes Road toward the Library of Celsus. Along the way we visted the nicely preserved bath house and Roman Toilets.

The highlight of the trip was the visited to the Terrace Houses. This area has been excavated extensively in the last 15 years and it was the wealthiest part of the city. Frescos and fine mosaics are preserved in this area.

We also saw the Library of Celsus. It was restored by an Austrian team of archaeologists. We saw the site of a brothel but we could not see the famous footstep inscription that some believe was an advertisement for the brothel because that section of the road was closed due to renovations.

We then entered the great theater of the ancient city this was the site of the near riot in the city where Paul’s ministry caused the salver smith guild to work the crowd into a 2 hour frenzy calling out great is Artemis goddess of the Ephesus.

The weather was good for our trip and the crowds while much heavier than we are used to were relatively light for this time of year.

Then we ate lunch at local buffet and visited a place where they make hand woven Turkish Rugs. Everyone enjoyed seeing the silk being spun from the cocoons.

We then visited the nice museum of the site of Ephesus. The highlights of this museum included a fresco of Socrates found in a villa, also the fine statues of the Ephesian Artemis. There was also a colossal statue of Domitian and a fine display about gladiators.

After this we visited the Church of Saint John and saw the traditional place of the burial of John. There is a fine baptistery in the floor of the church and also a mosaic of John, Jesus and Mary.

Then we visited a shop which makes and sells articles of leather. We had a special fashion show at this shop.

After this we drove to the site of the Temple of Artemis. This was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world but now only a single column remains with a stork nest on top.

We are staying in a nice hotel and in the morning we sail to the Island of Patmos which is controlled by Greece.

Everyone is doing well and feeling fine and we looking forward to the rest of our trip.


John Wineland
Kusadasi, Turkey