Greece & Turkey Tours

11 Days in the Steps of the Apostle Paul and the Book of Revelation

**New Departures for 2011 and 2012 — November 3, 2011, and March 2012

Starting at $2,599 from New York with several other inland cities available upon request.

• Day 1 (Wed): Depart USA

  Tour members depart on your overseas flight to Athens. After take-off dinner will be served.

• Day 2 (Thu): Arrival Athens

  Arrive in Athens and transfer to hotel. Afternoon at leisure, dinner and overnight in Athens.

• Day 3 (Fri): Arrival Athens - Embarkation

  Drive to Piraeus Port and embark your cruise ship, enjoying the fellowship of other Christians and excellent teaching.

• Day 4 (Sat): Thessaloniki - Veria

  Visit Vergina where the Royal Tombs of King Philip (Alexander's father) were discovered, one of the greatest discoveries of Greece antiquity in the 20th century. Vergina was the original capital of the ancient Macedonian Empire. The well preserved tombs include impressive amounts of silver and gold artifacts which are now housed in the impressive and modern Museum. Continue to Veria—ancient Berea—to the memorial commemorating Paul's preaching to the local Jews in 54 A.D. Still visible today in Veria is part of the Roman road—the Via Egnatia. It remains a silent witness to Rome's greatness. Travel to Thessaloniki, second largest city in Greece and capital of Macedonia. Paul preached in Thessaloniki during the winters of 49–50 A.D. and wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. During the City Tour you will see the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire and the Roman Agora where Paul preached. The monastery of Vlatadon was built on the location where Jason's house is believed to have stood and where Paul stayed during his visit to Thessaloniki. You will also drive to the upper town which offers a marvelous view of the city.

• Day 5 (Sun): Kavala - Philippi

  This morning you will visit Neapolis (Kavala), one of Greece's most picturesque mainland ports. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. You will see the Roman Aqueduct and Acropolis. In Philippi, Paul was moved to preach his first evangelical sermon in Europe to women who had gathered at the river. Among them was Lydia, a cloth merchant, who became the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. Visit the place where this event is remembered and see a crypt dating from the Roman period, which is thought to have served as a prison for St. Paul. You'll also see the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica and the Theater. The New Testament books of Philippians are Paul's correspondence with the people of this church. Reboard the ship for dinner and overnight.

• Day 6 (Mon): Istanbul

  In the morning we arrive in Istanbul, one of the world's greatest historic cities. Formerly Byzantium, the center of the Eastern Roman Empire, this city is built on seven green hills and situated astride two continents. East meets West in every way.

• Visit the Sultanahmet Mosque, where large groups of pilgrims start their pilgrimage to Mecca. It is decorated with 21.000 blue Iznik tiles from where it gets its name, the "Blue Mosque." Walk to the famous Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine Church of Divine Wisdom, where you can admire the superb mosaics and the marble decorations. The tour continues with a visit to the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans. See the famous treasury and the "Spoonmaker's Diamond," the 7th biggest diamond in the world. Visit the kitchen buildings, displaying the third richest collection in the world of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.

• Day 7 (Tue): Dikili - Pergamon, Sardis

  Disembark at the port of Dikili and travel to Pergamum. Christianity reached Pergamum very early and the church was addressed by John the Revelator (Rev. 2:12–17) as one of the Seven Churches. The inhabitants of the city were condemned for their doctrines (Rev 2:14–15) and those who overcame were promised a "white stone" and a "new name" (Rev 2:17). The first Christian to die at the hands of a Roman state, Antipas, was put to death in Pergamum. As you enter the Royal Gates, you'll view the Temples of Athena and Trajan. You'll explore the Grand Theater, the Gymnasium and Health Center. You'll also view Pergamum's famous Library, second only to Alexandria's. Pergamum introduced the "paged book" and—when Egypt cut off its supply of papyrus—re-introduced the use of skins for writing. It is from these "Pergamum pages" that we get the word "parchment."

• Day 8 (Wed): Kusadasi - Ephesus - Miletus

  Journey to Ephesus, the marble city where Paul spent three years of his ministry. It was to this community that Paul may have written his Epistle to the Ephesians. The ruins of Ephesus have been restored much like the city was in Paul's time. You will visit the ancient Agora and imagine where Demetrius, the silversmith, sold his silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. You will enter the Great Theater where Paul witnessed faithfully for Christ.

• Visit the archaeological site of Miletus (Acts 20:13–38). Paul and his companions traveled to Miletus via Mytilene, Chios and Samos. Once in Miletus, Paul delivered his touching farewell address to the elders of Ephesus and predicted his death.

• Day 9 (Thu): Patmos

  Patmos, the "Holy Island" for the Christian faith. This is the place where the apocalyptic Revelation of John was written during his exile from the Roman Empire.
  Depart from the port of Scala and enjoy a short drive to the village of Chora, where the monastery of St. John is built within the walls of a strong fortification. As you walk uphill towards the entrance of the monastery marvel at this magnificent structure,whic hwas built 900 years ago. View the courtyard, the monks' dining room and the old bakery before you visit the main church noted for its outstanding frescoes and interior decoration. Continue to the nearby Grotto of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of the Apocalypse above it. Walk down the steps to the Grotto of the Apocalypse. Here you will see the niches in the wall that mark the pillow and ledge used as a desk by the author of the Book of the Revelation and the crack in the rock made by the voice of God honoring the Holy Trinity.

• Day 10 (Fri): Disembarkation - Athens - Corinth

  Disembark the cruise ship and begin the tour of Athens. The architectural splendors of the ancient city of Athens are as magical as ever. Follow your guide on a journey to the ancient Acropolis where you will see the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erectheum. View Mars Hill where Paul preached the gospel to the intellectual Athenian community of his day (Acts 17: 15–34). View the ruins of the Agora, ancient market place and center of Athenian public life, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. You will view the Olympic Stadium, where the modern Olympics began and where the games returned in 2004. Travel to Corinth (Acts 18: 1–18), a city that inspired St. Paul's most familiar letter. You will visit the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, and Temples. Walk among the ruins and stand on the Bema where Paul stood. Read Paul's letter to the Corinthians and visualize his address to the Gentiles as he began the task of building Corinth's church. Imagine where Aquila and Priscilla lived and where they had their tent making business. Return to Athens. Overnight.

• Day 11 (Sat): Athens - USA

  Transfer to the airport and fly back home

Inclusions:

• Roundtrip air to be advised *
• 7 nights cruise on Full Board basis (I.e breakfast, lunch, dinner daily)
• 2 nights in Athens, in a 4* Hotels on Half Board basis (I.e full buffet breakfast and dinner)
• Athens and Corinth Tour
• Airport and port Transfers
• All shore excursions package a value of $440 included

Not Included:

• Plus port taxes: $248
• Plus cruise fuel surcharge: $63
• Suggested Personal $10 per day

Included Shore Excursions:

Town/Port	Excursion	Price p.p
Thessaloniki	Thessaloniki tour, Veria	$70
Kavala	Philippi	$75
Dikili	Pergamon	$75
Istanbul	Istanbul highlights	$70
Kusadasi	Ephesus, Miletus	$80
Patmos	Monastery & Cave of St. John	$70

Cristal Cruise Ship