ANNIVERSARY TOUR: CYPRUS AND NICAEA

"The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus." - Acts 13:4

Anniversary Tour: Cyprus and Nicaea

It’s La Casa de Cristo’s Anniversary year and we’re going big with a celebration tour!  Join us on a special anniversary tour through Cyprus, celebrating the Apostle Paul’s missionary journey, and Turkey, celebrating the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea – all on site!

This trip could only happen once in a century!  We will be accompanied by expert church historians and theologians who will be sharing lectures on the first 7 ecumenical church councils.  Study the history of the church like never before as we look back and look ahead!

Your itinerary is packed full of amazing experiences!  You will visit places such as the beautiful island of Cyprus; the city where east meets west, Istanbul; the heart of church history in Nicaea; and the breath-taking Cappadocia  —  plus so much more!  I look forward to seeing you in Cyprus and Turkey as we live out God’s church together in Christian community!

Pastor Matthew Knopf
Executive Pastor of Innovation
La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church

  Tour Dates

June 8-21, 2025

Tour Brochure

Click Here to download a copy of the tour brochure for full details.

Register

Click Here to download the Registration Form

Questions?

Contact Pastor Matthew Knopf at the church office: 480-948-1234.

  Church Councils

2025 Marks the 1700th Anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea

7 Ecumenical Councils

1. Nicaea (325)

2. Constantinople (381)

3. Ephesus (431)

4. Chalcedon (451)

5. Constantinople (553)

6 Constantinople (680-681)

7. Nicaea (787)

Questions and Answers

The Anniversary Tour is in celebration of La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church’s 50th Anniversary and the Council of Nicaea’s 1700th Anniversary!
The Anniversary Tour departs from the United States and visits both Cyprus and Turkey.
The cost of the Anniversary Tour is $5,990 Per Person in a double room. This includes all airfare (from Phoenix) and the full ground tour. See the brochure for full inclusions. Payment is accepted in cash or check, add +$200 if paying by credit card. Single room supplement is $950.
Once in Cyprus and Turkey, daily open breakfast buffets and nightly dinners are included. Lunches and drinks are not included.
The first part of the tour, in Cyprus, will be only the La Casa de Cristo group. Then, we will be joining many Christians in Turkey who are gathering in celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. This group includes the Christian professors (see names below) who will be sharing lectures with us on the church councils along with other Christian pilgrims celebrating the church councils.

Christian professors, theologians, and historians will be joining us to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. They will be sharing special presentations on the 7 ecumenical councils of the Church throughout the tour. These presenters include:

Dr. Mark Wilson
Seven Churches Network

Dr. Mark Fairchild
Huntington University

Dr. Richard M. Gamble
Hillsdale College

Dr. David McCabe
Bethel University

Dr. Douglas Jacoby
Lincoln Christian University

Dr. Glen Thompson
Asia Lutheran Seminary (Hong Kong)

Dr. Jason Borges
Seven Churches Network

Dr. Dana Harris
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

The Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops gathering in the Bithynian city of Nicaea from May-July in 325. One of the leading outcomes of the council was affirmation of the divine nature of the Son, Jesus Christ, in relationship to God the Father. It is a defining point in post-Biblical Christian Church history, leading to the fuller formation of the Nicene Creed, a Creed still used by the Christian Church today. The Anniversary Tour will be celebrating this council and its impact on Christian history and theology.
Yes. Yes you should. This is an excellent opportunity to join together with your local Christian Church (La Casa de Cristo), the global Christian Church, and with the Christian Church of the last 2,000 years, together, as one church, in celebration of our Lord!

  Tour Host

Staff - Pastor Matt Knopf

Pastor Matthew Knopf

480-948-1234
pastormatt@lacasadecristo.com

Meet Your Tour Host, Pastor Matthew Knopf

Pastor Knopf serves at the Executive Pastor of Innovation at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church.  He once made the personal goal of visiting the geographical sites of every story in the Bible.  This journey has taken him to Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, and Italy in order to walk the lands of the Bible.  He has participated in archaeological digs on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, gone on his own individual explorations of Biblical quests, and led Bible tours to the Holy Land.

He serves as a course instructor at Huntington University in Peoria, Arizona teaching Bible, Christianity, and Biblical Archaeology classes.  He also teaches Bible, religion, and archaeology courses through Arizona State University’s Osher Institute. His focus of interest includes Biblical archaeology and the study of early Judaism and Christianity. Pastor Knopf is passionate about sharing God’s Word with people in engaging ways and he feels blessed to serve in God’s ministry.