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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.
"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 1700 feet above the ruins, the marketplace is laid
out exactly as it stood in the days of the great Apostle. We see the
bema (the 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 04: ATHENS / VERIA / VERGINA /
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)
 This
morning 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 to Vergina, where excavations in 1978
discovered three very important royal tombs. The most important tomb is
believed to be that of Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander
the Great. We return to Thessaloniki and explore this great city
starting with a drive along the water front to the massive White Tower
and nearby Triumphal Arch of Galerius, built in 303 AD. We shall also
see St. Demetrios Church with its valuable mosaics and frescoes and 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. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 05: 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 waterfront to the massive White Tower and nearby Triumphal
Arch of Galerius, built in 303 AD. We shall also see St. Demetrios
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 06: KAVALA / CANNAKKALE.
Visit
Kavala, the modern port city, ancient Neapolis, where Paul accompanied
by Silas, Luke, and Timothy, first set foot in Europe. We drive to the
Greek/Turkish border. Cross and continue to Cannakkale for overnight.
DAY 07: PERGAMUM / IZMIR.
Drive to
Pergamum, the great city of Bergama, a city of the Book of Revelation,
where one of the seven churches is located. One of the best preserved
ancient sites in Turkey. Paul embarked by ship to Palestine and to
Truva, the city of Troy, where the vision of a man from Macedonia
appeared to Paul beseeching him to “come and help us.” Continue to
Izmir for overnight.
 DAY 08: Izmir / Philadelphia / Pamukkale.
Morning
tour of Izmir, the biblical Smyrna, home to one of the Seven Churches.
Continue to Alasehir, the site of Philadelphia, the youngest of the
Seven Churches. See part of the city wall and the remains of the early
Church. Drive to Pamukkale for overnight.
DAY 09: PAMUKKALE / KUSADASI / EPHESSUS.
Visit the principle tourist attraction of western Turkey, and several
large pools with water temperature at 95 degrees. In the crystalline
waters of the spring one can clearly see the columns and column capitals
of ancient Hierapolis. Visit ancient Hierapolis with its rich Roman and
Christian remains, its extensive well-preserved Necropolis and some
Church ruins. Proceed to Kusadasi and visit the ruins of Ephessus - the
most impressive archeological site in Turkey. Extensive excavations
have facilitated the restoration of old Ephessus. From the harbor a
thirty five feet wide marble paved and pillar lined street led into the
interior of the city. Paul would have approached the city through this
street, entering it through the northern gate, called the Magnesian.
Paul suffered many trials and tribulations in Ephessus leading finally
to his imprisonment. Overnight in Kusadasi.
 DAY 10: KUSADASI / PATMOS / KUSADASI.
In
the morning transfer to the pier and board the ferry to Patmos. The
island of Patmos, considered a “Holy Island” for the Christian faith as
this is the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine,
written here during his exile from the Roman Empire, the cave where he
lived is near the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. The
Monastery of St. John, built on one of the island’s highest points,
houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its treasury. Return to
Kusadasi for overnight.
DAY 11: KUSADASI / ISTANBUL.
This
morning we fly to Istanbul. Visit the Church of St. Sophia, the oldest
Christian Basilica where the ecumenical councils were held, the
Hippodrome of old Constantinople. Continue with visits to the
Imperial Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans between the
15th
and 19th centuries and contemplate the world’s richest
porcelain collection of the Ming Dynasty of China. Overnight in
Istanbul.
 DAY 12: ISTANBUL.
Our first
stop will be the Blue Mosque.
The only mosque built with 6 minarets, decorated with famous Iznik
tiles. Then on to the famous Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of over 4500
little shops, it has been built in the 15th century. It is
the major highlight of the city and very popular among locals and
tourists. Shops mainly sell gold jewelry, carpets and silver bibelots
ceramics. Continue for the Bosphorous tour, the winding strait
separating Europe & Asia. Along the shores is a delightful mixture of
the past and the present, as well as the grand splendor and quaint
beauty of the modern hotels, ancient wooden villas, palaces of marble,
fortress and small fishing villages. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 13: DEPART.
Transfer to the airport for our return flight home - the end of a most
enjoyable pilgrimage. |
