Kathryn Roach has joined a group of Moore College studens for a tour of Turkey and its Biblical sites, in the company of historian and theologian Dr Paul Barnett.
On the tour, Kathryn is visiting cities that most Australian Christians would only recognise as biblical locations from long ago in a land far away.
Her trip will see her stop in Colossae, Laodocia, Ephesus, Patmos, Pergamon, Psidion Antioch and Sardis, many of which were recipients of Paul's letters or churches mentioned in Revelation.
In the past few days Kathryn and her tour group most recently visited the old ruins of the Hellenstic and later Roman city of Perga.
"Leaving the magnificent old ruins we saw the Greek and Roman inscriptions on the wall left by the long gone inhabitants of the city," Kathryn says.
"We nearly left two of the party behind who lost track of time trying to translate the ancient greek carvings " not mentioning any names here " Bill Salier and cohorts."
The group have also visited the Blue Mosque, the centrepiece of Islaamic tradition in Ä°stanbul.
"Leaving our shoes at the door, and donning scarves " well, half of us at least " we stepped into the expanse under the four magnificent domes," Kathryn says.
"Exerpts from the Koran lined the walls, fashioned in stunning gold lettering and set against a background of blue mosaics."
They also visted Hagia Sophia a sixth century Christian church. It was converted in the 15th century to a mosque with the conquest of the Ottomans, yet large parts of the Christian heratige remain.
"The result is a mix of caothlic style friezes of Jesus, Mary and various saints, jostling for space between the same flowing Turkish scripts we had seen in the Blue Mosque," Kathryn says.
Living in the the Bible cities
The opening words of Colossioans 2, "I want you to know brothers and sisters how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea…" echoed in Kathryn's mind as the group reached Colosse.
"Hearing those words written so long ago to the church at Colosse, in the very area it would have been read by its recipients, was something quite special," Kathryn says.
However, modern day Colosse is now an "unimpressive' sight according to Kathryn.
"Little remains today other than two tells in the location of the old city, and what is there is covered in crops," Kathryn says.
"Still, it remains a powerful reminder of the city that once was, and the new church established in it so long ago."
After leaving Colosse the tour group travelled on to Laodicea, the church that was neither hot nor cold, but instead an unpalatable lukewarm.
"Excavations were still underway, and only part of the town centre and nearby theatre were unearthed," Kathryn says.
Ä°t seems the teaching never stops for Moore studnets, even during an overseas tour.
At the ancient city of Miletus, there was a large theatre, containing some unusual inscriptions.
"Paul Barnett challenged the Greek graduates amongst the group to translate the inscription, but no one dared take up the invitation given the company kept in the group," laughs Kathryn.
Dr Barnett revealed that it read ‘this place reserved for the Jews and God-fearers’.
This concluded another tiring but exciting leg of the tour.
