Paul the Apostle, the prolific writer of the New Testament letters, was one of the first Christian missionaries. Trace his journey through the ancient cities and pastoral countryside of Greece and Turkey in this spectacular trip. Greece is often called the cradle of Western civilization. The capital of Athens displays the immense 5th-century B.C. Acropolis citadel with the Parthenon temple. Greece is also known for its beaches with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. These vary from the black sands of Santorini to the resorts of Mykonos, to the windmills of Mykonos, and the island of Patmos, where the disciple John was exiled.
DAY 1
Depart your city of origin and prepare to enjoy the trip of a lifetime! You will be met and greeted at the airport in Greece by an official representative to escort your group to your tour bus and meet your guide that will be with you for the duration of your time in the Greece.
DAY 2
Upon landing at Makedonia Thessaloniki Airport, board the bus to transfer to your hotel. Enjoy some time to relax after check-in. After a delicious meal, overnight in Thessaloniki. This is the city to which Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
DAY 3
Start your journey in Greece with the first stop of the day in Philippi. Philippi was the city where Paul the Apostle delivered his first sermon and, he established the first church in Europe. Continue to the modern port city of Kavala, which was once the ancient Neapolis.
DAY 4
In the winter of 49-50 A.D., Paul wrote two epistles to the Thessalonians. These letters urged Christians to "live blamelessly" and to refrain from living idly while they wait for the second coming of Christ. While in Thessaloniki, you will witness several ancient artifacts, such as the triumphal Arch of Galerius found at the start of Via Egnatia.
DAY 5
The Greek word Meteora means “suspended in the air” and this phrase aptly describes these remarkable Greek Orthodox monasteries. Today only six monasteries are active with a small number of monks or nuns who reside on Meteora. The impressive rocks of Meteora are rising from the plains of Thessaly been one of the most amazing places in Greece.
DAY 6
Delphi was an ancient religious sanctuary dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. The power of pagan religious thought was a formidable enemy for the early church. Delphi and Corinth had a strong connection as Corinth boasted major temples to the very gods worshipped in Delphi. Paul warned Christians in 1 & 2 Corinthians.
DAY 7
Today you will be in one of the oldest cities in the world, Athens. its recorded history spanning approximately 3,400 years. Ascend Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the Athenians about their "unknown God". At the Acropolis, you will see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erectheum, and Propylene. Embark on a visit to ancient Corinth. View the remains of the first-century shops, the site of Paul’s trial by Gallio, the Fountain of Peirene, and the Temple of Apollo.
DAY 8
This morning, board your 3-day cruise. Your first stop will be the Island of Mykonos, the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands. After docking, transfer to Hora, the capital of the island. Enjoy a walking tour that will take you on the narrow cobbled streets of the city. According to the myth, this is the place where the giants slain by Hercules were buried and that is why the island is strewn with big rocks.
DAY 9
Transfer to the small village of Mt. Koressos. Visit the stone chapel situated upon the site, where Mary spent her last days following the crucifixion of Christ. Following this visit, walk through the Magnesian Gate to the ancient Ephesus. Enjoy a walking tour that will take you through the most magnificent excavations in the world. The cruise journey continues to Patmos, where the apostle John was exiled.
DAY 10
This morning awaken and transfer to the largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion. Here is where Paul met the owner and captain of the ship and was warned by him of continuing his journey to spread Christianity in Rome. Following this historical visit, embark by ship to the idyllic Island of Santorini. Santorini is definitively the most breathtaking island of all of the Greek Islands. Upon arrival in Santorini, visit Thira with its iconic white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes, and glittering boutiques that cling to cliffs.
DAY 11
Today marks the end of your cruise. Following disembarkation, you will say your heartfelt farewells to a journey that will last in your memory forever. Transfer to the Athens airport for your return flight(s) home.
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