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TUTKU NEWS


Posted: January 13, 2021

Please click to view Timeline for Paul's Journeys.


Posted: January 11, 2021

TUTKU Egypt Fam Trip led by Dr Jim Hoffmeier- January 6-18, 2021. Thank you Sema for great photos!.


Posted: December 14, 2020

New Historical Fiction Set in Roman Asia Minor
Dr. Chris Stanley, an American professor who led a tour with Tutku a few years ago, asked us to forward this announcement about a new historical fiction trilogy set in Roman Asia Minor that might prove useful to people leading tours that focus on the early history of Christianity and Judaism in Turkey.

After thirty years of writing and editing academic books and articles on the social world of early Christianity, I recently published my first two historical novels, A Rooster for Asklepios and A Bull for Pluto. Both books are set in a time and place that will interest Tutku followers, Roman Asia Minor in the time of Nero (though he receives only brief mention in the books). A third volume (A Ram for Mars) will follow later to form a trilogy titled A Slave’s Story, but the first two books tell a complete story on their own.
Rather than summarizing the story line here, allow me to point you to the plot summaries on my Website for the series, https://www.aslavesstory.com/ (click on "Books"). You’ll also find here an author bio and interview, brief review comments from fellow scholars, a series of blog posts about various aspects of Roman social life that relate to the world of the novels, and a host of links to Websites pertaining to the various places referenced in the books. You can even listen to a modern recording of the oldest known Greek song, the Song of Seikilos, which will begin playing when you access the main page.
As a social historian of early Christianity, I have made every effort to ensure the historical and cultural accuracy of the smallest details in these novels while also crafting an engaging story that illuminates the lives of ordinary people whose experience is typically neglected in history books. I have visited and conducted on-site research at most of the places that appear in the books, so my stories reflect the actual geography and layout of the sites as far as it can be known. I did have to be creative when talking about unexcavated areas here and there, but my speculations are rooted in what we know about other sites.
Special attention is given in both books to the pervasive influence and diversity of what we might anachronistically call 'religion' in the Roman world, including not only the official Roman cultus but also Judaism, Christianity, and indigenous religions. The novels are not "religious" in the sense of promoting Jewish or Christian faith, but they do help to illuminate the variety of ways in which followers of both religions were viewed by outsiders in the first century CE.
If you would like to sample the books before buying them, you can download the first five chapters for free by following the links at https://www.aslavesstory.com/books If you like what you can see, you can follow the links on that page to the Amazon pages where the books are listed for sale. The books are available in both paperback and Kindle format, and an Audible version is currently in production for those who prefer listening to reading. I’m hoping to have it ready some time in January—e-mail me at cstanley@sbu.edu if you would like to be notified when it is available. I also maintain a Facebook page for the series (https://www.facebook.com/aslavesstory) where you can be notified about new blog posts relating to the social world of the novels as I post them on my Website. Simply 'Like' the page to receive these updates.
Finally, I'm offering a free copy of the second book in the series (A Bull for Pluto) in any format to the first ten people who buy and post a review of the first book (A Rooster for Asklepios) on Amazon or Goodreads. Just e-mail a screenshot of the review to me at cstanley@sbu.edu. I'd love to hear your comments!


Posted: November 24, 2020

Christ Church group visited Laodicea today.

 


Posted: October 23, 2020

We are delighted to announce that we continue to operate our tours. Our guests are enjoying the beauties of Istanbul with our tour guide Çiçek Hekimgil.

 


Posted: April 8, 2020

With regret, we must announce the postponement of the 1st Global Smyrna Meeting of the Seven Churches of Revelation scheduled for June 2020. The uncertainties of international travel along with ongoing health risks make this decision necessary. Please mark your calendars for June 20-26, 2021 when the Global Smyrna Meeting is rescheduled. Tutku Educational Travel looks forward to seeing you then in Izmir.
www.globalsmyrnameeting.com


Posted: March 21, 2020

This is our last group in Turkey before Turkish Ministry of Culture closes all archaeological sites and museums in Turkey until March 30.
Tour Guide: Meltem Ciftci

 


Posted: March 11, 2020

Tutku Greece Fam Trip group visiting Meteora Monasteries.

 


Posted: March 10, 2020

Grace Gospel Fellowship are enjoying their tour of Turkey.

 


Posted: January 30, 2020

Our guests from Kentucky visited and discovered beautiful sites in Italy with our tour guide Cenk Eronat.
 

Posted: December 24, 2019

Merry Christmas!
from the lands of St Paul, Santa Claus, St John, St Peter, St Philip, and nearly 300 more Saints…
Levent Oral
President
Click to watch our Christmas message.


Posted: November 13, 2019

BAS group at Israel led by Dr. Carl Rasmussen.

 


Posted: October 21, 2019

Dear Levent,
We made it back last night, safe-and-sound after a marvelous weekend in Istanbul. Thanks once again for all your excellent work in making this a memorable weekend for my students—and for my family. Baþak did a marvelous job with all the tours, we are all grateful to her for her unflagging energy and enthusiasm. As always, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you, and I hope we’ll be sending more Furman students to Turkey soon!

Best regards,
David
David C. Fink, PhD


Posted: October 14, 2019

Our guests from New Zealand visited Turkey and its beautiful sites with our tour guide Cenk Eronat.

 


Posted: October 3, 2019

On their Bible Lands Tour, the Christian Church Group From Australia, hosted by Ian and Mandy Worby visited Turkey with Tutku Tours. They studied the sites of the Seven Churches in the guidance Tutku Tours' guide Tulu Gökkadar. Further on, the Australian pilgrims traveled to Gallipoli to honour the ANZACs. They also visited Istanbul.


Posted: September 26, 2019

Mark Wilson and BAS group at the Theater in Merida, Spain


Posted: August 22, 2019

Tutku Tours sponsored the Seven Churches Seminar organized by Izmir Tour Guide Association.
The purpose of this seminar is to share new information and new archaeological research with tour guides from all over Turkey.

Biblical Scholar, Dr. Mark Wilson, gave detailed information about the Seven Churches and Early Christian History in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.


Posted: July 5, 2019

SBL International Meeting - Rome June 30-July 5, 2019 Tours Organized by TUTKU: Ancient Rome – Jewish Sites – Vatican – Paul & Peter
 

Posted: June 27, 2019

"FOLLOWING PAUL FROM SHIPWRECK ON MALTA TO ROME"
Carl Rasmussen's group in Malta, Sicily and Italy


Posted: June 26, 2019

In The Footsteps Of Paul: Greece & Turkey, Carl Rasmussen's group in Turkey & Greece.
 

Posted: June 17, 2019

Baylor University, Truett Seminary, Tour of The Seven Churches of Revelation, was led by Dr. Todd Still and guided by Tutku Tours' guide Tulu Gökkadar.
 

Posted: June 12, 2019

Baylor University students visited Turkey & Cyprus with our tour guide Cenk Eronat.
 

Posted: May 13, 2019

Watermark Church from Hong Kong visited Turkey with Tutku and lead by our guide Tulu Gökkadar.
 

Posted: March 21, 2019

Oklahoma Group
 

Posted: March 18, 2019

Turkey Fam Trip 2019

 


Posted: February 21, 2019

International Church of Christ Group (275 people) visited the Seven Churches of Revelation
 

Posted: January 23, 2019

Tutku Dinner in Izmir
 

Posted: January 23, 2019

Guide Seminar at Izmir Movenpick Hotel
 

Posted: January 21, 2019

Egypt Fam Trip 2019
 

Posted: January 15, 2019

Greece Fam Trip 2019
 

Posted: November 26, 2018

Annual Tutku Dinner - Denver
 

Posted: October 24, 2018

Oral Roberts University in Italy.
 

Posted: October 20, 2018

Biblical Archaeology Society group in Greece & Turkey.
 

Posted: October 4, 2018

Seventh Day Adventist Church from England.
 

Posted: October 3, 2018

Church group from Shanghai touring in Turkey with our tour guide Ms. Meltem Çiftçi.

 


Posted: September 20, 2018

Our tour guide Cenk Eronat with Wesley Seminary professors.

 

 


Posted: August 29, 2018

TUTKU sponsored SKAL lunch.

 


Posted: August 13, 2018

Visit Roman Roads of the Domuz Island at the Gocek.


Posted: July 3, 2018

Fresno Pacific University touring in Turkey & Kos Island.
 

Posted: June 18, 2018

May 26 - June 11, 2018

"SAILING THE AEGEAN WITH PAUL & JOHN"
organized by Tutku Tours and the Biblical Archaeological Society.


Posted: June 16, 2018

Philippines Group at the Laodicea
Led by Bishop Daniel & Dr. Mark Fairchild.