Pilgrimage

October 13–24, 2008

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

This will be my second pilgrimage to Turkey.

Some have asked me, “Why Turkey, and why now?”

Why Turkey?

Turkey is a land of enormous historical import. As the gateway between Europe and Asia, Turkey’s vast lands contained trade routes which created great wealth and wonderful cities. Turkey’s culture was

shaped by its own peoples and by conquerors and

immigrants from all over the world. With its first known inhabitants as early as 7500 BC, cycles of both empire building and the crumbling of great civilizations evolved - Hittites clashing with Egyptians; contacts with Seleucid, Pontic, Pergamum and Armenian kingdoms; Roman rule; and the spread of Christianity. Muhammad’s birth set the scene for Islamic dynasties and the Ottoman Empire. With the assistance of European powers and the formation of the Kingdom of Greece, Bulgarians, Rumanians, Albanians, Armenians, Romanians and Arabs sought independence. I have been blessed to travel to other marvelous parts of the world, but the archaeological treasures and cultural interplay of Turkey are among the best I have seen – including those in Egypt, Greece, Italy and Israel.

Why Now?

Turkey disastrously sided with Germany in WWI and in 1918 was divided up by the victorious Allies. The War of Independence from 1920-22 abolished the sultanate. By 1938, a constitution had been adopted. Islam ceased to be the official state religion, and Constantinople was renamed Istanbul. Women were given the right to vote. Turkey began a transition to democracy. No stranger to political infighting and civil unrest sometimes settled by the military at the price of strict control and some human rights abuses, in 1998 Turkey's Constitutional Court banned parties found to be working to undermine Turkey's secular democracy. The 1990’s in Turkey was another period of human rights abuses, economic turmoil and a horrific struggle with the Kurds. Since the elections in 2001, Turkey has concentrated on stabilizing its economy and articulating its case to join the EU. Many political and religious scholars believe that the Islamic social movements in Turkey may serve to promote a democratic and pluralistic society, with a Turkish example emerging with long-term promise for the rest of the Muslim world. Turkey offers insights and new understandings of the role of political Islam in one of the world's most strategically important countries.

Why You?

Turkey provides fascinating spiritual, interfaith, political, and cultural experiences that will touch you deeply personally and which will inform your understanding of the daily news! It is also a country of great beauty and of enormously hospitable people.

I have assembled a wonderful leadership team including: my wife The Reverend Anne Brewer, who is a medical doctor; The Reverend Janet Waggoner, Rector of Saint Paul’s, Shelton, CT, and her husband, Ed Waggoner, Ph.D., who is an Early Church scholar with his degree from Yale; and Susan Cannon, who graciously coordinates my office. We will be ably assisted by Mustafa Alemdar, a licensed local guide, citizen of Turkey and delightful host who will be with us throughout the trip.

The total cost of the trip per person, based on double occupancy, is $3,298 + $375.00 (airport and other taxes, subject to change). Miscellaneous additional expenses are tips, lunches, and “tour protection plan” insurance – which is recommended and which costs $239. The price of this trip is excellent, considering that nearly all fees, international and intra-Turkey flights, hotels and meals (except for lunches) are included. We will travel to the classic and must-see sights as well as explore some of the eastern part of Turkey – the lands of the Cappodocian Fathers – sadly less often visited.

To make a reservation, please send Journeys Unlimited a $375 deposit (plus $239 if you choose the optional travel insurance) with a completed enrollment form from the brochure. (Click here to view/print the fact sheet.) Checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted for payment. Paying the deposit by June 13, 2008, qualifies for an “early bird” discount of $75 per person off the full payment. Full payment is due by August 31, 2008.

I hope the brochure fascinates you enough to whet your appetite so that you will sign up now for what will be a pilgrimage of a lifetime. (Click here to view/print the itinerary.) And please let Susan Cannon know if you have any questions or to obtain a printed brochure (212-316-7493 or cannon@stjohndivine.org).

Faithfully,

 

The Very Reverend Dr. James A. Kowalski

Dean