Greece and Turkey Tours
11-Day Walk in the Footsteps of Paul
including a 3-Day Greek Isles Cruise
Departure dates and rates
A Glorious Pilgrimage No One Should Miss!
via Austrian Airlines
DAY 1—U.S.A.
We begin an exciting journey as we board our overseas flights to Athens. After take-off dinner and light drinks will be served aloft as we speed across the Atlantic. There will be time for a movie and hopefully a nap during the night.
DAY 2—ARRIVE IN ATHENS NEW AIRPORT
Breakfast is served aloft before we land in Europe, where we connect with our Athens flight. On arrival in Athens, we go to the baggage carousel and pick up our luggage, then exit the secured area where we're met by our guide and escorted to an awaiting motorcoach for the transfer to our hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Dinner in the early evening.
DAY 3—ATHENS / MARS HILL / ACROPOLIS
This morning we travel to the Acropolis and visit Mars Hill where the Apostle Paul preached (Acts 17, 16–34) to the City Council. God blessed the preaching of Paul; Dionysius, a member of the council, Damaris and others believed. Next we enter the Propylea and visit the temple of the Wingless Victory and the incredible Parthenon, considered the world's most perfectly proportioned edifice. To the left of the Parthenon is the beautiful Erechtheum. Our Athens tour continues as we see the House of Parliament, Tomb of the "Unknown Soldier", Theatre of Dionysos, Odeon of Herodes, Atticus and the ancient Agora (market). The Agora was Athens meeting place in ancient times. In 49 AD St. Paul disputed daily there, intent upon winning converts to Christianity. We will visit the charming little Church of the Holy Apostles, built in the early 11th Century to commemorate St. Paul's teaching in the Agora. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
DAY 4—ATHENS / PIRAEUS / SAIL ON THREE-DAY CRUISE
This morning we transfer to Piraeus to board our cruise ship, which departs at noon. Lunch will be served en route. Weather and time permitting there will be a short stop at Mykonos with its dazzling white houses, narrow paved streets, shops and windmills. Dinner is served on board the ship.
DAY 5—RHODES
Optional city tour and Lindos is available along with Temple of Athena $56.00 per person. Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodecanese with a population of 98,181. On the Apostle Paul's third missionary journey, after meeting with the elders of Ephesus at Miletus and saying goodbye to them, he sails to Cos and then to Rhodes (Acts 21, 1). As his ship sailed into the harbor of Rhodes, Paul saw the remains of the Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The Rhodians maintain that the Apostle Paul stayed in their city and preached, bringing many people into the new faith. We are told that before Paul left, he appointed Prochorus, one of the seven deacons (Acts 6,5), Bishop of the Island. Another local tradition has the Apostle's ship landing in the small harbor near Lindos, referred to even today as "St. Paul's Harbor." St. Silas, a prophet and leader among the brethren (Acts 15, 22–23) is revered by the Rhodians. St. Silas proved the power of Jesus Christ by healing a paralytic, whereupon the villagers accepted the Christian faith and built a church in honor of their patron.
DAY 6—KUSADASI / EPHESUS / PATMOS
We have an early breakfast this morning as we arrive in Kusadasi at 7:00 am. Optional excursion to Ephesus $55.00 per person. We will visit the ancient city of Ephesus where Paul spent three years of his ministry (Acts 19–20; 1). Ephesus was a rich commercial center like Corinth. The great marble temple of Artemis was the pride of Ephesus and one of the world's Seven Wonders. The city annually played host to hordes of people from all over during the festival of Artemis. In this setting, Paul preached the Gospel. We'll visit St. John's Church built by Justinian in 527–565. Some believe the Apostle John wrote his Gospel from Ephesus and, having returned after two years of exile on Patmos, that he is also buried here. Walking along one of the main streets we will see ruins of the Library of Celsius, the Agora, and the Great Theater that seated 24,000 (Acts 19, 23–41). Some early Christian traditions believe that Jesus' mother, Mary lived and died here in Ephesus; we'll visit the Church of the Virgin Mary. We next sail for Patmos, arriving after lunch at 4:00 pm. On Patmos we will visit the cave where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. Optional excursion to St. John Monastery and the Grotto of the Apocalypse $44.00 per person. We'll also see the Monastery of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of St. John, which have fine frescoes, priceless icons, ecclesiastical ornaments, pendants and beautiful embroideries. We sail about 7:00 pm. Dinner is served on board. An unforgettable day!
DAY 7—PIRAEUS / CORINTH / ATHENS
We disembark from our cruise in Piraeus, where we are met by our agent who assists us to our motorcoach for a sightseeing tour to Corinth. We will have an hour drive along the Saronic Gulf and cross the impressive canal to ancient Corinth, the "most beautiful and frivolous" capital city of Roman Greece. The Apostle Paul came to Corinth from Athens in about 50 AD (Acts 18:1–18). As he often did when coming into towns, he went to the synagogue and preached the Gospel. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord together with all his household. Many Gentiles were receptive and came to believe. When Paul first came to Corinth, he met Aquila and Priscilla, tentmakers like himself and he stayed with them. Paul remained in Corinth 1-1/2 years. While in Corinth we visit the Bema and remember Paul's trial and ministry. Next we will visit the temple of Apollo, the Agora market place, museum, and the Fountain of Pirene. We return to Athens via Cenchreae (Acts 18,18), the harbor where Paul, Aquila and Priscilla set sail for Syria. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
DAY 8—METEORA / KALAMBAKA
This morning we depart Athens for Meteora in Western Thessaly where the world famous Byzantine monasteries perch precariously on top of strange rock formations. Meteora is a cluster of gigantic large rocks of varied and beautiful shapes. We will visit some of the monasteries. This is an awe-inspiring experience. Dinner and our overnight stay will be in Kalambaka.
DAY 9—BEREA / THESSALONIKI
Today we travel to Veria (Berea). The Apostle Paul came here after Thessaloniki (Acts 17, 10–15). He went to the synagogue and preached to them about Jesus. Many believed, also many Greeks came to believe. We will visit a monument dedicated to the Apostle Paul. One side depicts the voice Paul heard when he was in Troas: "come over to Macedonia and help us". On the other side there is Paul speaking to people about Jesus. In the center is a beautiful mosaic of the Apostle Paul. St. Paul visited Berea twice on his second missionary journey (49-52) and then again on his third missionary journey (53–58). Berea is a fascinating town with over 70 churches—some call it "Little Jerusalem." We now travel to Thessaloniki; the Apostle Paul came here from Phillippi (Acts 17, 1–9). He first went to the synagogue where many believed in what he preached and confessed Jesus as the Savior. We tour the 5th-century church of Agios Dimitrios, Greece's largest church. Dimitrios was born in the city in the third century and became an eminent scholar and Christian convert. He was martyred by orders of Galerius. Time permitting, we plan to visit the church of Agia Sophia. We have dinner and stay overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 10—PHILLIPPI / KAVALA
After breakfast we travel to Phillippi. The Apostle Paul with Silas, Timothy and Luke came from Troas to Neapolis (Kavala). They then went to Phillippi (Acts 16, 12–15) by the banks of the Gangites River where people gathered for prayer. Paul preached to them about Jesus. Lydia, a businesswoman from Thyatira heard Paul's message. She and her household believed and were baptized. Close by the site is a Baptistry where baptisms take place today. Next we visit the excavations—the tribunal (Bema), where Paul was beaten, and the prison where Paul and Silas were held in wooden stocks (Acts 16, 16–40). A church was built over this prison. Next we visit two basilicas and the theatre. We leave for Kavala where we visit a Greek orthodox church, have lunch, before returning back to Athens for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11—ATHENS / USA
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Airport for your return flight to the United States, arriving the same day.