Being a Full Account of the Seven Letters Sent by Our Lord
to the Seven Congregations of the Province of Asia Minor
Revelation II:I — III:XXII · c. AD XCVI · The Island of Patmos
A Pilgrimage of Seven Cities
All seven cities of the letters lie within the western coastal provinces of modern Turkey — ancient Asia Minor — and all may be visited in the course of a single week's pilgrimage. Some sites, such as Ephesus, are among the finest classical ruins in the world. Others, such as Thyatira, lie beneath busy modern towns with but modest visible remains. All seven speak to the devoted pilgrim.
Of Practical Note
Journeying to Asia Minor
Approximate nonstop air travel time to Istanbul, the principal gateway to Turkey, from major cities across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania — arranged continent by continent from west to east.
| Country | City of Departure | Direct Flight to Istanbul | Onward to İzmir |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Atlanta | 11 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Boston | 9½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Chicago | 11 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas | 12½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Denver | 12½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Detroit | 10½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Houston, Texas | 12 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Los Angeles | 13½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Miami | 11½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| New York | 10 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Newark, New Jersey | 10 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| San Francisco | 13½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Seattle | 12½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Washington, D.C. | 10½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Canada | Toronto | 10½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Mexico | Mexico City | 16 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Brazil | São Paulo | 13 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| United Kingdom | London | 4 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Manchester | 4¼ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Spain | Madrid | 4½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Barcelona | 3¾ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| France | Paris | 3½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | 3½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Switzerland | Geneva | 3¼ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Zurich | 3 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Germany | Frankfurt | 3 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Italy | Rome | 2½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Austria | Vienna | 2¼ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| South Africa | Johannesburg | 10½ hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Cape Town | 11 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs | |
| Philippines | Manila | 13 hrs (nonstop) | + 2 hrs |
| Australia | Sydney | 21 hrs including 1h 45m – Stopover (No connecting flight) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | + 2 hrs |
Figures are approximate averages for scheduled nonstop commercial flights and will vary by airline, routing, and season. "Onward to İzmir" reflects the additional time for the connecting flight and layover in Istanbul. All routes are currently operated by Turkish Airlines unless otherwise noted.
Straight to the Gateway City
A number of European and British cities offer seasonal or year-round nonstop service directly into İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB), the customary point of arrival for the seven-city pilgrimage — bypassing Istanbul entirely.
| City of Departure | Flight to İzmir |
|---|---|
| London | ≈ 4 hrs (nonstop) |
| Manchester | ≈ 4¼ hrs (nonstop) |
| Frankfurt | ≈ 2¾ hrs (nonstop) |
| Düsseldorf | ≈ 3 hrs (nonstop) |
| Amsterdam | ≈ 3¼ hrs (nonstop) |
No nonstop service to İzmir currently operates from the United States or Canada; pilgrims departing from North America connect through Istanbul or another European hub.