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DAY 01: NORTH AMERICA
/ ATHENS. Tour members will gather at the
ticket counter at the airport two hours prior to their departure to
Europe.
DAY 02: ATHENS.
Upon arrival in Athens, you are met by your guide and bus driver.
Transfer to your hotel with the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03: ATHENS / VERIA /
THESSALONIKI.
“The brethren immediately sent Paul
and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived they went into
the Jewish synagogue.” (Acts 17:10-14)
We continue to Veria (Beroea) where we visit the
monument dedicated to Paul; we see the Bema where he stood and preached
to the people of Veria. Continue for Thessaloniki.
“Paul came to Thessaloniki with
Silas and following his usual custom, he went to the Synagogue where he
used the Jewish scriptures as the source for his preaching.” (Acts 17:2-4)
We become acquainted with this great city, the “Queen
of the North”, where Paul wrote two epistles to the ancient
Thessalonians. Built by King Cassandros and
named after the sister of Alexander the Great, the city flourished under
the Byzantine Empire and it’s most important buildings date from those
days. Today it is considered the second capital of Greece, the Queen of
the north. Our city tour takes us along the water front to the massive
White Tower and nearby Triumphal Arch of Gallerius, built in 303 AD. We
shall also see St. Demetrios Church with its valuable mosaics and
frescoes will drive up to the upper town that offers a marvelous view of
the city. The site where the monastery of Vlatadon was built is believed
to be the location where Jason’s house once stood and where Paul was
accommodated during his visit to Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight in
Thessaloniki.
DAY 04: KAVALLA / PHILIPPI.
“Setting sail therefore from Troas,
we made a direct voyage to Samothrace and the following day to Neapolis
" (Act 16:11)
"And from thence to Philippi which
is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony; and we were
in that city abiding certain days.” (Acts 16:12)
We visit the beautiful city of Kavala (ancient
Neapolis), and from there on to Philippi
 which
was a Roman garrison town and the chief city in the province of
Macedonia. It was here that Paul won his first European convert, a woman
named Lydia, the market place (where Paul and Silas were brought before
the rulers), the cistern which tradition identifies as the place where
St. Paul were imprisoned. We return to Thessaloniki for dinner and
overnight.
DAY 05: THESSALONIKI / METEORES /
KALAMBAKA. Continue to the Meteora
Monasteries, perched upon the summits of gigantic rocks, which have been
etched into variety of strange shapes. Grey gigantic stalagmites rising
towards the sky, they seem to be nature's gift to the pious who opted
for monasticism and for a life totally dedicated to the worship of God.
The monastic history of the Meteora goes back to the 11th century A.D.
when the first hermits sought peace and solitude in the rifts and caves
of these rocks, but the first monasteries were not built until the 14th
century A.D. attaining their peak in the 16th. Of the 13 large and 20
small monasteries and hermit’s cells, only four are not occupied: Megalo
Meteora, Monie Varlaam, Monia Aghias Triadas and Moni Aghiou Stefanou.
Apart from portable icons, miniatures, ecclesiastical robes, utensils
and crosses, all of them excellent examples of Byzantine art, the
Meteora Monasteries also contain rare editions and manuscripts.
Overnight in Kalambaka.
DAY 06: KALAMBAKA / ATHENS.
We depart for Athens, driving through the beautiful countryside of
Greece, on past many picturesque towns and villages. We arrive Athens in
late afternoon for dinner and overnight.
DAY 07: PIRAEUS / ATHENS.
Transfer to port and embark the cruise vessel for your 3 day cruise. Our
first port of call is the island of Mykonos; cubic white houses and
those world famous windmills. Free time to explore this lovely island.
DAY 08: RHODES.
Rhodos, the island of "roses", is the legendary home of the sun god
Apollo. The old town (which is the largest inhabited medieval town of
Europe) and its mighty fortifications (built by the crusaders of St.
John) are the finest surviving example of defensive architecture and is
of great interest to all visitors. An optional tour takes us to Lindos.
Medieval walls that were constructed by the Knights of St. John in the
14th century guard this entire city. Within, stands the ancient
Acropolis of Lindos, 400 feet above the sea. From the Acropolis a
breathtaking view covering the great expanse of the Aegean Sea and St.
Paul's Bay, where the Apostle cast harbor during his historic voyage to
Ephessos.
DAY 09: KUSADASI / PATMOS.
“And it came to pass, that, while
Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came
to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples . . ."
(Acts 19:01)
Continue to Kusadasi, a lively Turkish port and
gateway to ancient Ephessos. Our optional tour takes us to visit Ancient
Ephessos, the Greek colony founded by the Athenians. Here history truly
comes to life; walking towards the ancient harbor down a marble road
rutted by the wheels of countless chariots. You pass architectural
masterpieces like the Magnesian Gate and the Library of Celsus before
arriving to the Great Amphitheater where Paul spoke to the Ephesians. We
continue our cruise for the island of Patmos ; considered a holy island
for the Christian religion it was here in Patmos where John the Divine,
while in exile, wrote the Apocalyptic Revelations which constitute the
last part of the new Testament. Optional tour takes us up to the
monastery of St. John that still keeps its character of a medieval
fortress. Inside the walls you will be able to admire the Byzantine
wealth of the Christian Orthodox religion while from its ramparts you
will have the most stunning panoramic view of the luminous sea.
DAY 10: PIRAEUS / ATHENS / CORINTH.
"Men of Athens, I perceive that in
every way you are religious. For as I passed along and observed the
objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription ‘to
an unknown God’. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim
to you…”
Today we visit Athens, one of the most glorious cities
in the world and the cradle of
 western
civilization, as we know it today. For twenty-five centuries, the
panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis; we see
the ruins of the Parthenon, the Erectheum and the Propylae. Thereafter,
we will ascend Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians about
the one and only God. From here we have an excellent view of the ancient
agora; former center of the Athenian public life. We continue for a
drive through the city to see the House of Parliament on Syntagma
Square, the evzones in their picturesque uniforms guarding the
Presidential Palace and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also see the
Library, the University, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first
Olympics of the modern era were held, the temple of the Olympian Zeus
and Adrian's Arch.
“Do not be afraid, but speak and do
not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm
you; for I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9)
We board our coach for Corinth, taking the coastal
road along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the
Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. Short stop for pictures and continue to
the site of ancient Corinth, Paul's beloved city and site of his most
extensive ministry. Dominated by the Acro-Corinth rising 1,700 feet above
the ruins, the marketplace is laid out exactly as it stood in the days
of the great Apostle. We see the bema (judgment seat) where Paul
stood before Galilo and preached (Acts 18). The museum contains a superb
collection of artifacts portraying life in ancient Corinth. Return to
Athens for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11: ATHENS / NORTH AMERICA.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, the end of a marvelous
tour. |
