Two thousand years ago, a man from Tarsus set out on roads that would carry the Gospel from a small corner of Anatolia to the ends of the earth. In 2026, the world comes back to where it began. St Paul Global Week is a Christian pilgrimage built around the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on 29 June, held in Tarsus and Mersin — the birthplace of the Apostle Paul — and Funny Tourism offers three pilgrimage packages so groups and individual travellers can join.
This guide explains what St Paul Global Week is, why Tarsus matters, the route you will walk, and the three pilgrimage packages available for 2026.
What Is St Paul Global Week?
St Paul Global Week is an international Christian gathering held in Tarsus and Mersin, in Cilicia, southern Turkey, around 28–30 June 2026, anchored on the Feast of Saint Paul. It is organised in coordination with the local authorities — the Provincial Directorate of Culture & Tourism (İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü) and the Mersin Governorship (Mersin Valiliği) — and proceeds on the basis of written permissions. The Feast Day prayer programme on 29 June is approved to be broadcast live, carrying the day to those who follow from around the world. For pilgrims, it is a rare chance to honour the apostle in the very city of his birth, among pilgrims from many nations.
Why Tarsus — The City That Shaped an Apostle
Tarsus is not a stop along a route; it is the source. It is the birthplace of St. Paul the Apostle — "a citizen of no ordinary city" (Acts 21:39) — and the wells, gates, and Roman streets that pilgrims walk today are the same ground that formed the man whose words would one day reach every continent. To come here is to begin where he began. Pilgrims visit St. Paul's Church and St. Paul's Well, Cleopatra's Gate, and the ancient Roman road.
The Route: Tarsus, Antioch & Mersin
The pilgrimage traces the cradle of the early Church:
- Tarsus — the birthplace, where the apostle's story began, and the setting for Holy Mass in honour of St. Paul on the Feast Day.
- Antioch — where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians, and home to the cave Church of St. Peter, one of the earliest places of Christian worship.
- Mersin — with its historic churches, completing the journey through the early-Church heartland of Cilicia.
Longer itineraries extend the journey to Cappadocia — with its underground refuges of the faithful and rock-cut churches — and to the great cities of the Aegean such as Ephesus, Pergamon and Smyrna, written into the Book of Revelation.
The Three Pilgrimage Packages
Three programmes — of five, seven, and nine nights — offer different lengths of the same ancient road. All three share the Feast of Saint Paul in Tarsus. Prices are per person and start from the 3-star category.
- 5 Nights / 6 Days — from €1,360 per person. 28 June – 3 July 2026. Istanbul, Tarsus, Mersin and Antioch. The core pilgrimage, centred on the Feast Day.
- 7 Nights / 8 Days — from €1,610 per person. 28 June – 5 July 2026. Adds Cappadocia and its early-Christian heritage.
- 9 Nights / 10 Days — from €1,970 per person. 28 June – 7 July 2026. Adds the Aegean — Ephesus and the cities of the seven churches — for the fullest journey in the footsteps of Paul.
All three include accommodation, guided heritage visits, and the Feast Day programme in Tarsus. See full inclusions and book on the St Paul Global Week page.
For Churches, Clergy & Groups
The deepest journeys are rarely taken alone. We warmly welcome churches, clergy, ministry delegations, and pilgrimage groups to take part together, and we help with arrangements for the whole party — accommodation, transfers, the heritage programme, and the visit to Mersin. Tell us about your group through our contact page and we will reply by email; there is no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly is the Feast Day?
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul falls on 29 June 2026, the heart of the gathering, with Holy Mass in honour of St. Paul in Tarsus.
Do I need to be part of a church group to join?
No. Individual pilgrims, families, and groups are all welcome on the packages.
Which package should I choose?
Choose the 5-night programme for the core Feast-Day pilgrimage, the 7-night to add Cappadocia, or the 9-night to also walk the Aegean cities of Ephesus, Pergamon and Smyrna.
Walk the Road That Began in Tarsus
Join the Feast of St. Paul, 29 June 2026 — in the apostle's birthplace.
See the Pilgrimage Packages →Officially coordinated • Held with written permissions • Feast Day broadcast live
