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DAY 01: NORTH AMERICA / EUROPE.
Tour members will gather at the ticket counter at the airport two hours
prior to their departure to Europe.
DAY 02:
EUROPE / TEL AVIV / JERUSALEM. Upon our
arrival at the Tel Aviv airport, we will be met and transferred to our
hotel in Jerusalem. Dinner will be served at our hotel.
DAY
03: MT. SCOPUS / THE MT. OF OLIVES / GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE / ST. STEPHENS
GATE / POOL OF BETHESDA / THE WAY OF THE CROSS / THE OLD CITY / GOLGOTHA
/ THE GARDEN TOMB. After a good nights rest
and a hearty breakfast, this exciting day will begin with a drive to Mt.
Scopus and the Mt. of Olives (Matthew 24:3) for a panoramic view of the
Old City of Jerusalem (Mark 14:32-26) and the Church of Agony where
Jesus was betrayed by Judas (Matthew 26:36-57), we will proceed to St.
Stephens Gate (Acts 7:51-60) from whence we will visit the Five Porch
Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-16) and the Church of Saint Anne. Then we
will follow in the footsteps of Jesus through the Old City of Pilate's
Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation and the Ecce Homo Arch
(John 19:13) where Jesus was tried before Pilate (Mark 15:6). We then
will traverse the Via Dolorosa to Golgotha, the place of the skull (John 19:17), where they crucified our Lord. Then on to a victory celebration
at the Resurrection Tomb and Garden (John 20:1-18).
DAY 04: THE
NEW CITY / THE MODEL CITY / BETHLEHEM / THE KIDRON VALLEY / THE HOUSE
OF CAIPHAS / MT. ZION / THE UPPER ROOM / THE WESTERN WALL / THE TEMPLE
MOUNT. We will begin the day with a trip to
New Jerusalem and enjoy a brief visit to the outdoor Walking Mall.
Proceed to view the Model City of Jerusalem which depicts in miniature
the Holy City as it appeared in the first century. Onward to Bethlehem
to visit the Church of the Nativity and the birthplace of Jesus,
observing Rachel's tomb, the Shepherd's Field (Luke 2:1-20) and the
Field of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17 and 4:13). The afternoon drive
will take us through the Kidron Valley to the Pool of Siloam. Viewing
the House of Caiphas, the High Priest, and the first century steps of
stone that our Lord climbed, we will continue to the Room of the Last
Supper (Luke 22:14-20) on the summit of Mt. Zion where the tomb of King
David is memorialized. Onto the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall) where the
faithful Jews cry their petitions to God and to the Dome of the Rock
which is built on the ancient site of Solomon's Temple (Genesis 22:9-14)
and over the Rock of Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22)
and the ceremonial sacrifice of animals took place.
DAY 05: TEL AVIV / ATHENS.
Travel to Tel Aviv for some sightseeing including ancient Joppa. After
lunch continue to the Tel Aviv airport for our departure to Athens,
Greece. Transfer to your hotel with the rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 06: 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.” (Act 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 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. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 07: 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.”
(Act 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
08: 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, eccesiastical 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 09: 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 10: 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 11: 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. This entire city is
guarded by medieval walls which were constructed by the Knights of St.
John in the 14th century. 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
12: 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 . . ." (Act 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 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.
DAY 13: 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 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 14: ATHENS / NORTH AMERICA.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, the end of a marvelous
tour. |
