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DAY 01: NORTH AMERICA / THESSALONIKI.
Depart USA en route to
Frankfurt, Germany and on to Greece.
DAY
02: THESSALONIKI.
We arrive today in Thessaloniki, Greece and transfer from the airport to
our hotel for some time to rest. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 03:
THESSALONIKI / KAVALA. Today we begin our
travels with a tour of Thessaloniki, 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 Galerius,
built in 303 AD. We shall also see St. Demetrius Church with its
valuable mosaics and frescoes will drive up to the upper town which
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. We then continue to the beautiful city of Kavala for
dinner and overnight.
DAY 04:
KAVALA / PHILIPPI / CANNAKKALE. After
breakfast, we depart 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 from the city of
Thyatira, a seller of purple goods. Visit the Baptistery of Lydia., the
market place (where Paul and Silas were brought before the rulers), the
cistern which tradition identifies as the place where St. Paul was
imprisoned. Continue then on to Canakkale along the straights of
Dardanelles.
 DAY
05: CANNAKKALE / PERGAMUM / IZMIR.
After
breakfast, we continue to to Troy, the immortal city of the legendary
Helen of Troy and Trojan House which was destroyed and rebuilt nine
times. Then on to Pergamum where the first Christian was put to death
by the Roman state. Here we will visit Asklepion and the Acropolis.
Continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 06: IZMIR / PHILADELPHIA / SARDIS / PAMUKKALE
(HIERAPOLIS).
Day long tour from Izmir, through Philadelphia and
Sardis, once the capital of Lydia. Both Philadelphia and Sardis are
referred to in the Book of Revelations, with Sardis remaining “one of
the most picturesque of any of the Seven Churches”. Then to Hierapolis,
which means holy city, to see the famous necropolis. Dinner and
overnight at our hotel in Pamukkale.
DAY 07: LAODICEA / EPHESSUS / KUSADASI.
This morning we
leave for Laodicea where we see the ruins of this ancient city. Visit
Ancient Ephessos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was
here that the special miracles were wrought by the hands of Paul. The
apostle John was one of the early leaders of the church of Ephessos. It
is believed he brought Mary , the mother of Jesus, here. On Mount
Setimisses near Ephessos, one is shown a beautiful little chapel built
on what some believe was the home where Mary spent her last days.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Kusadasi.
 DAY
08: KUSADASI / PATMOS / KUSADASI. Today we
take a ferry to the island of Patmos, considered a sacred 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. Our tour takes us up to the monastery of St.
John which 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. Return to Kusadasi for
dinner and overnight.
DAY 09: TROY / AYVALIK.
. We visit in Troy, the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy
and Trojan House which was destroyed and rebuilt nine times.
Continue to Ayvalik for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10: ISTANBUL.
This morning we travel to Istanbul. We visit the Topkapi Palace, home
of the Ottoman Sultans. See the Treasury, containing Jewel encrusted
thrones, the world's largest emerald and the famous Topkapi dagger.
Continue to St. Sophia, the oldest Christian basilica where the
ecumenical councils were held. St. Sophia was conceived by Konstantine
and built by Justinian. Continue to see the Hippodrome of old
Constantinople and the legendary Blue Mosque; six minarets and middle
dome of 109 feet. The finale to our tour will be a visit to the Grand
Bazaar, a labyrinth over 4,000 shops. Dinner at the hotel.
DAY 11: ISTANBUL / NORTH AMERICA.
This morning we
transfer to the airport for our flight home – the end of a most
enjoyable tour. |
