ITENARY:
Day 1: DEPARATURE
We depart the USA on our transatlantic flight to Athens.
Day 2: ATHENS
Welcome to Greece. We met by our tour guide and transferred to the hotel. This afternoon embark on a city tour including a visit to Agora where Paul preached. We visit the Acropolis. We see the chief jewel of the Acropolis – The Parthenon, the Temple of Wingless Victory, the Proplea and the Erechteum with its peerless Porch of Maidens. Beneath the Acropolis is the Areopagus or Mars Hill. This is where St. Paul made his famous “Men of Athens” speech revealing a considerable knowledge of the Greek philosophy and character. Conditions permitting, we will celebrate Mass on this very site. We return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: ATHENS - CORINTH - ATHENS
This morning visit ancient Corinth following closely the same route Paul took during his journey. After a short stop at the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and Ionian Seas, we will arrive in Ancient Corinth. We will visit the ruins of Corinth, where St. Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. Included are the first century shops, the Agora, Temple of Apollo and the Bema Seat. Conditions permitting, we will celebrate Mass on the very site where St. Paul preached. Returning to Athens this afternoon, we continue our tour of the city seeing the National Library, Academy, the University, Presidential Palace, and the Stadium, Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: ATHENS - PIRAEUS - CRUISE
We are transferred to Piraeus today, where we board our cruise ship for our three day cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey. We will celebrate Mass aboard ship. The first stop is the picture island of Mykonos, with its whitewashed houses, chapels and windmills. You can take optional excursion offered by Cruise line or visit the island on your own. Dinner and overnight aboard our ship.
Day 5: RHODES
We arrive this morning at the island of Rhodes, the island Paul visited during his third journey as he sailed toward Jerusalem. Today our included half day excursion will go to Lindos, where St. Paul landed in 51 AD on his way to Rome. We will visit the Acropolis of Lindos, site of the Temple of Athena, one of the most beautiful in all Greece. On returning to the city of Rhodes, we will celebrate Mass in the Church of St. Francis. Afterward we will be free to wander the quaint old city streets on your own before re-boarding our ship for the evening. Dinner and overnight aboard our ship.
Day 6: PATMOS – EPHESUS (KUSADASI) SHIP
This morning our ship will dock in Patmos, which was considered sacred and is often referred to as the “Jerusalem of the Aegean”. It was here that the Evangelist St. John received inspiration for the Apocalypse. Our included excursion will visit the Monastery of St. John, a huge fortress-like building dating from the 11th century. We will also visit the grotto where tradition says that St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. We return to our ship for lunch as we continue our journey. This afternoon, we will dock at Kusadasi, where our excursion takes us to Ephesus, where Paul spent two years during his ministry. Our included excursion takes us first to visit the sight of St. John’s Basilica, where tradition tells us the “disciple whom Jesus loved” is still buried. We will celebrate our Mass on this site. Next we visit the site of the Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Some of the most spectacular ruins of the ancient world are to be found in Ephesus, the city to whom St. Paul wrote his famous epistle. Early Christian tradition also believes that Mary, the Mother of Our Lord also lived here with St. John. We will then have time to walk the streets of the modern Turkish resort city of Kusadasi before returning to the ship at dockside port. Dinner and overnight aboard our ship.
Day 7: PIRAESUS - METEORA - KALAMBAKA
Upon arrival in Piraeus, we disembark and proceed by motorcoach through the towns of Lamia, Larissa on our way to Kalambaka. We will continue to Meteora, whose pillar-like rocks provide an amazing site. Monasteries were built into the cliffs in the 14th century; we will visit two of them. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. Mass will be celebrated.
Day 8: VERIA - THESSALONIKI
This morning we will drive through the plains of Thessaly, visit the legendary home of the Greek Gods, and continue on to Veria (Beroea of the New Testament), where Paul visited on route to Athens and the Scriptures say the people were “more noble than in Thessaloniki.” Paul and Silas were taken here after the Thessaloniki pagans attacked them. Mass will be celebrated. We end in Thessaloniki with dinner and overnight.
Day 9: PHILIPPI - KAVALA - ALEXANDROUPOLIS
Our full day excursion takes us along the ancient route of St. Paul, through mountain passes and plains to Amphibolies for a short stop to view the ancient Lion statue. We will continue to Ancient Philippi, where Paul established the first church in Europe. We then continue on a short drive to Kabala to the site of ancient Annapolis, where Paul landed on the way to Philippi. Weather permitting we will celebrate an outdoor Mass at Philippi before continuing to Alexandropoulos for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: ALEXANDROUPOLIS - ISTANBUL
This morning we meet our Turkish Tour Manager and board our Turkish bus to make our way to Istanbul. We cross the border into Turkey and arrive in Istanbul late this afternoon where we will have a sightseeing tour, dinner and overnight. Mass will be celebrated. This evening you can participate in an optional “Turkish Show” with dancing and Turkish Folk Music.
Day 11: ISTANBUL
Begin morning with Mass, followed by breakfast. Depart hotel for a full day city tour of magnificent Istanbul, the city that links two continents Asia and Europe. Visit Topkapi Palace of the Sultans (where lunch will be served followed by a visit of the palace), Hogia Sophia, the magnificent former Christian Basilica, the Chora Church with its Byzantine artworks, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, with over 400 little shops. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Farewell dinner in a restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 12: RETURN TO THE U.S.A.
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
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