10 NIGHTS 2019 Lands of St Paul

The will come alive as we go out with St Paul and his companions to rediscover the faith and struggles of the early Christian communities. Be prepared to capture afresh the fervour and spirit of the Church’s greatest evangelist.

Athens • • Meteora • • • Accompanied by Island of • • Optional 3 Night Malta Extension FR CHRIS SARKIS PP DEPARTS MONDAY 15 JULY, 2019

the genuine pilgrim experience Lands of Saint Paul

Meteora,

MEAL CODE 14 Days / 10 Nights A Pilgrimage Journey through Greece and Turkey B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner

Day 1: Monday 15 Jul – Depart for Greece from the Rostrum. See the Peirene monument to Paul – is believed to incorporate fountain, and the 6th century BC Temple the steps from the original from Day 2: Tuesday 16 Jul – Arrive of Apollo before an outdoor Mass in this which he preached the gospel to the , Theme: The Athenians stunning pilgrimage setting. who welcomed the word of God and began to Athens today is the thriving capital of Greece, Finally we come to Cenchreae, the ancient study the Scriptures (:10–12). but, more importantly, we have entered into port from where St Paul said farewell to the A small church was established here and we the world of the where St believers and departed for Ephesus (Acts will also view the ‘hidden churches’, a collection Paul and his companions established the first 18:18). of about 20 Byzantine structures, camouflaged Christian communities throughout his four Athens overnight (BD) in the form of barns from the invading missionary journeys. Ottoman Turks. On arrival in Athens we will be met and Day 4: Thursday 18 Jul– Via Continue east along the ancient route of transferred to our centrally located hotel. to Meteora the Apostle Paul to the port city of This evening we will celebrate our first Theme: The Byzantines (ancient Neapolis), once named “Christoupolis” Mass together. We travel north today to the remarkable after being the first European city to accept Athens overnight (D) Byzantine of Hosios Loukas, built Christianity. It was here that St Paul, St Timothy in the 11th century on the slopes of Mt Helikon. and St first landed from Troas (Acts Day 3: Wednesday 17 Jul – Athens & In 1990 UNESCO included this site on their 16:11), one of the great moments in the history Corinth World Heritage List. On arrival we will celebrate of Christianity. Theme: The Corinthians an outdoor Mass here in the grounds of the Kavala overnight (BD) When St Paul first came to Athens it was Monastery and be taken on a guided tour of predominantly a city which worshipped pagan Day 7: Sunday 21 Jul– Via Philippi to the Churches, crypt and surrounds where we gods. St Paul was taken before the city council Thessaloniki admire the amazing frescoes and mosaics. at the Areopagus Hill, a rough outcrop of Themes: The Philippians We continue north this afternoon to the small limestone rock from which he preached the Journey out to Philippi, named after Philip town of Kalambaka built at the foot of the Gospel message to the Athenian philosophers II, father of . It was here majestic grey rocks of Meteora. (Acts 17:16–21). that St Paul won his first European convert, Kalambaka overnight (BD) We begin our pilgrimage with a tour of a woman named Lydia, from the city of Christian Athens including the Acropolis, Day 5: Friday 19 Jul – Meteora Exploration Thyatira (:12–40). Visit the Baptistery the Areopagus where St Paul delivered his Theme: The Monastics of Lydia for a beautiful outdoor Mass in this famous sermon about the identity of “the We spend some time today marvelling at breathtaking oasis on the River Zygaktis, and Unknown God” (Acts 17:15–34). Visit the this unique phenomenon of nature – 24 to renew our Baptismal vows. Visit the market Ancient Agora where Paul preached about perpendicular rocks where 600 years ago place (where St Paul and St Silas were brought and the resurrection, the Plaka (Old Byzantine monks chose to worship God and before the rulers) and the cistern which Greece), and explore the Parthenon. Also build their cave-like Monastic community tradition identifies as the place where St Paul see the Kallimármaro Stadium, dating back of Meteora. We will visit some of these was imprisoned. In the ancient theatre we will to 330BC and restored for the first modern living by foot and view the hear the story of Paul’s arrest, imprisonment Olympic Games held here in 1896. extraordinary collection of priceless religious and miraculous release. Journey out to Ancient Corinth this afternoon frescoes and other treasures that will make We depart Philippi and journey east along where the apostle Paul lived for almost two this a remarkable day. Enjoy some free time the ancient route of the Apostle Paul via years, teaching the people the Word of God this afternoon. (Acts 17:1) where we view the and converting many. On arrival we will view Kalambaka overnight (BD) ruins of many Christian basilicas. the Erastus inscription dating back to the first Finally we arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece’s century AD and concerning a Christian convert, Day 6: Saturday 20 Jul– Via Beroea To second city, founded in 315 BC, and where Erastus (Rom 16:23) who was the ‘director of Kavala Theme: The St Paul preached during the winters of 49– public works’ in Corinth. We visit the ancient Today we journey north by coach to Beroea 50AD and wrote the two epistles to the ancient ruins and see the site where he preached the (modern ). The “Bema” – an impressive Thessalonians. It was here that he established Philippi

Beroea 1 Kavala 1 Meteora Thessaloniki TURKEY 2 Lands of GREECE St Paul Athens Izmir Corinth 2 Ephesus 2 Kusadasi 2 Patmos 3 Malta

Optional Malta Extension

Patmos, Greece

the first Christian Church in Europe. will culminate with time in the actual Cave of 19:29–31), and finally come to the ruins of the Thessaloniki overnight (BD) Revelation where God chose to reveal to St Christian Basilica where the Third Ecumenical John the mysteries of the last book of the Council took place in 431AD, and where Our Day 8: Monday 22 Jul– Thessaloniki & – the Apocalypse. The cave is now at the foot Lady was proclaimed “Mother of God”. travel to Patmos of the monastery, which houses priceless icons We ascend the hill to the House of the Virgin Theme: The Thessalonians and manuscripts, sacred relics, vestments Mary where it is said Mary spent the later Our visit this morning will include the ramparts embroiled with silver or gold threads and years of her life. We celebrate our group Mass of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius, as bejeweled with precious stones. here in one of the chapels. Finally we visit the well as the Rotunda where we can see pieces Later continue to the active Convent of restored remains of the 6th century Basilica of the pulpit from which Paul preached. View Evangelismos (Annunciation) built by the of St John at Celcuk where a small church was the Roman Agora where he also preached. hieromonk Nikiphoros who was cured from the originally built over the tomb of St John the Nearby we shall visit St Demetrios’ Church plague after praying to St . Evangelist. dedicated to a Roman soldier who converted Visit the Convent of Zoodochos Pigi with icons Kusadasi overnight (BD) to Christianity, and was later martyred. View dating from the 16th to the 18th century. Finally its valuable mosaics and frescoes before Day 12: Friday 26 Jul – Depart Turkey we will enjoy a short scenic tour of the island. descending in to the crypt where we find Today we will be transferred to Izmir airport for Patmos overnight (BD) the remains of some ancient Roman baths our homebound flight connections or onward pilgrimage extensions. (B) and streets. Day 10: Wednesday 24 Jul– Patmos to We then ascend to the ‘ano poli’ (old town) to Kusadasi Depart Patmos this morning by Day 13: Saturday 27 Jul – In transit the Byzantine Vlatadon Monastery, built over private Charter Vessel to Kusadasi, doorway Day 14: Sunday 28 Jul – Arrive Australia Jason’s house (Acts 17:5) where Paul stayed to Ephesus, the Churches of Revelation and during his time in Thessaloniki. Gallipoli. On arrival in Kusadasi we will be We will then be transferred to the airport met and transferred by coach to our centrally for our flight to Athens. On arrival we will be located hotel for the remainder of the day at transferred directly to the Athenian port of leisure. Kusadasi overnight (BD) Piraeus to embark our deluxe boat transfer to the Dodecanese island of Patmos, where St Day 11: Thursday 25 Jul – Ephesus Day John the Beloved wrote the Book of Revelation. Theme: The Ephesians Patmos overnight (BD) We travel directly to Ephesus this morning, the most famous of the Seven Churches of Day 9: Tuesday 23 Jul – Patmos Day Revelation (Rev 2:1–7) where St Paul spent Theme: St John of Revelations more than two years in the course of his third Lying between the islands of Leros and missionary journey. It was to the Christian Ikaria is the ‘ascetic shaped’ Patmos, called community of Ephesus that St Paul wrote the ‘ of the Aegean’ due to the his greatest and most challenging letter (the overwhelming atmosphere of the island during epistle to the Ephesians) and also succeeded the great celebrations of Christianity. in converting many away from worship of the We begin our day with a walking tour of the god Artemis. main square of the village of Chora. This is the Our visit today will include the ruins where traditional settlement and capital of Patmos, St Paul lived and preached. See the prison where the narrow streets were designed to of St Paul; walk through the ancient marble ward off pirates over the centuries. Ascend streets founded in the 10th century BC and see to the Monastery of St John the Beloved, this most ‘complete’ Roman city providing us a huge fortress-like building dating from the with an excellent window into Imperial Rome. 11th century, for a visit and celebration of Pass the Temple of Hadrian, the Library of Ephesus, Turkey Mass. Our exploration of this living monastery Celsus, the enormous amphitheatre (Acts PILGRIMAGE COST: AUD $6,990

Departure Date: 15th July 2019

Tour Code: 9SP02

Single Room Supplement: $895

NB: Please note that a Prepaid Tipping Fund of $15 per touring day will apply at time of final payment.

MALTA EXTENSION

Tour (Twin Share): $1490

Single Room Supplement: $660

Prepaid Tipping: $60

NB: All costs are in AUD and are based on twin share rooming and are valid as at 1 December 2018 and must remain subject to possible change in the unlikely event MALTA of significant exchange rate variations, airfare increases AFTER and minimum group size (20) contingencies. EXTENSION Paul’s Island. Upon our return to the mainland we will view St Paul’s Bonfire Church. En route to Rabat INCLUSIONS 3 Nights visit the miraculous Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Mosta. Continue to Rabat to enter St Airfares: Economy class flights from Australia Paul’s Grotto. After a short walk into Mdina, visit St (N.B. Airlines taxes and fees are included and Paul’s Cathedral. Malta overnight (BD subject to fluctuations). Accommodation & Meals: Based on moderate Day 14: Sunday 28 July– Gozo Day Trip. Travel by standard hotel and Religious accommodation ferry to the sister island of Gozo. Visit the Church throughout with breakfast and dinner daily of St John La Rotunda, and walk up the steps to the Gozo Citadel which is a medieval city and the capital Miscellaneous inclusions: Deluxe air- of Gozo. Visit St George’s Basilica, then on to the conditioned motor coach • Local tour escort/ miraculous Ta’Pinu Shrine for Mass. guide • Sightseeing and entrance fees FEATURING: St Paul’s Island / Rabat / Mdina Malta overnight (BD) throughout itinerary / Gozo Day Trip / Gozo Citadel / St George’s Not Included: Passport and Visa Costs (if Basilica / Ta’Pinu Shrine / Ta’Giezu Church / Day 15: Monday 29 July – Depart Malta. Today applicable) • Other meals not stated • Items of a St Paul Shipwreck Church we visit Valletta. After a drive around the city to personal nature including phone calls, laundry, admire its bastions, we enter the city by foot and Day 12: Friday 26 July – Fly to Malta. Fly beverages, etc. • Travel insurance • Prepaid see the Auberges built by the Knights and St John. to Malta, upon arrival we will be met and Tipping Fund We enter St John’s Co-Cathedral and view the transferred to hotel for check-in. impressive Crucifix at Ta’Giezu Church. Malta overnight (BD) Day 16: Tuesday 30 July – In transit Day 13: Saturday 27 July – St Paul’s Island – SIMPLE BOOKING STEPS Rabat – Mdina. A short boat trip takes us to St Day 17: Wednesday 31 July – Arrive Australia • Go to harvestjourneys.com and complete the online booking form or fill out the enclosed form and return to Harvest with a deposit of AU$800 per person. Cheques to be made payable to Harvest Journeys or nominate Credit Card details where shown. • Await Harvest’s letter of confirmation containing receipt, visa(s) information (if applicable) and travel insurance detail along with any other specific travel detail. Make balance of payment seven weeks prior to departure. • Tour documentation including Harvest’s Travel Pack, pilgrims journal and ticket wallet will be available approximately two weeks prior to departure date.

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