Specials
10-Day Adventures in Greece
including a 3 Night Mediterranean Greek Island Cruise
Brand New for 2012/2013!
Enjoy 10 Days in Greece with a Wonderful Mediterranean Cruise
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 $49.00 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 $48.00 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 $52.00 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—ATHENS / CORINTH / MYCENAE / NAUPLIA
We disembark from our cruise in Piraeus, where we are met by our agent who assists us through general customs and formalities before transferring to our motorcoach for sightseeing of Corinth. We will have an hour drive along the Saronic Gulf across the Corinth Canal through rolling vineyards to ancient Corinth, which was the most beautiful and frivolous city of Roman Greece. Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Greece known as Achaia. Because Corinth had direct communications with Rome and the west it was a strategic location for the spread of the Gospel. Another reason for Paul coming to Corinth could be the large Jewish community living there, estimated to be around 20,000. From Athens, the Apostle Paul comes to Corinth (Acts 18-1-18) in about 50 AD. As he often did when he came to towns, he went to the synagogue and preached the Gospel. God blessed his preaching. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household. Also many Gentiles came to believe and were receptive to his preaching. When Paul first came to Corinth, he met Aquila and Priscilla who were forced to leave Rome. They were tentmakers and he stayed with them. Paul also was a tentmaker. Some of the Jews were hostile to him. They brought a united attack upon him before Gallio, the Roman proconsul of Achaia at the Bema-'tribunal' (Acts 18, 12-17) saying "this man is persuading men to worship God contrary to the law". Gallio refused to hear them and set Paul free. This act truly legitimized Paul's work and the preaching of the Gospel. He stayed in Corinth 1-1/2 years. We will visit the Bema and remember the trial and the ministry of the Apostle Paul in Corinth. Next we will visit the Doric style temple of Apollo, the market place, museum, the Fountain of Pirene, and the Agora. We will have time for shopping and have lunch in Corinth. Time permitting we will visit the Cathedral of St. Paul in the modern city of Corinth. Depart for Epidaurus to visit the amphi-theatre with its astonishing acoustics. Continue to the ruins of Agamemnon's capital, Mycenae, with its fascinating Cyclopean Walls, Tomb of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Return to Athens for the night.
DAY 8—ATHENS / DELPHI
This morning your motorcoach will be waiting to take you on your tour of Delphi. Drive on the national highway through Thebes, Levadia and the picturesque village of Arachova to Delphi. Visit the Museum to see the famous Bronze Charioteer along with other statues. In the afternoon visit the Temple of Apollo, the Theatre, the Athenian Treasury, and the Castalian Spring. Overnight in Athens.
DAY 9—ATHENS
Today is at leisure to explore Athens or finish your last minute shopping.
DAY 10—ATHENS / U.S.A.
Say goodbye to Athens as you board your flight home, arriving the same day.