Turkey and Georgia Pilgrimage

A Pilgrimage in Turkey and the Republic of Georgia brings pilgrims into contact with some of the most formative landscapes of early Christianity, where the faith was defined, defended, and lived amid persecution, theological struggle, and missionary expansion. These lands were central to the life of the early Church: the setting of apostolic preaching, the home of major Christian communities, and the location of many of the great councils and saints who shaped the Orthodox Church. To visit here is to encounter Christianity at its foundations, where Scripture, theology, and lived faith converged.

In what is now Turkey—ancient Asia Minor—we visit regions and cities intimately connected with the New Testament and the early Church. These include Ephesus, associated with the Apostle Paul and St John the Theologian; Antioch, where believers were first called Christians; and Cappadocia, home to early monastic communities and the great Cappadocian Fathers. Pilgrims also encounter the setting of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse and other ancient cities such as Constantinople, which was the second capital of the Roman Empire, known especially for the Hagia Sophia, built by the Emperor Justinian.

The Republic of Georgia offers a profound witness to early Christian evangelisation and national conversion. Tradition holds that the faith was brought to Georgia by Saint Nino, whose preaching led to the baptism of the kingdom in the fourth century. Pilgrimages in Georgia include visits to ancient churches and monasteries such as Mtskheta, the spiritual heart of the nation, the historic Churches of Anchiskhati, Metekhi, Jvari Monastery, Samtavro Convent, Betania Monastery and others.

Each of our pilgrimage packages is custom-tailored to fit your group's needs. If you are interested in organising a pilgrimage to Turkey or Georgia, please contact us to discuss details.

Photos from previous pilgrimages to Turkey and Georiga