Christian Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Paul in Greece May 25 to June 8, 2017
May 25, Thursday: Depart for Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
May 26, Friday: Arrival Athens, Titania Hotel Upon Arrival to Athens, transfer from airport to hotel for dinner and overnight
May 27, Saturday: Half Day Athens Sightseeing After breakfast we will visit the National Museum for an overview and introduction to Greece. The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is the largest archaeological museum in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world devoted to ancient Greek art. It was founded at the end of the 19th century to house and protect antiquities from all over Greece, thus displaying their historical, cultural and artistic value. Dinner at hotel and overnight
May 28, Sunday: Athens - Delphi – Kalambaka, Kastraki Hotel We depart for Delphi, the center of the Ancient World – the “Omphalos (Navel of the Earth). After lunch, we continue to Meteora, the Byzantine monasteries of Central Greece. Dinner at hotel and overnight
May 29, Monday: Meteora – Kalambaka After morning Mass, we visit the Meteora Monasteries, among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks, which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Lunch at Kalambaka. Dinner and overnight at hotel
May 30, Tuesday: Kalambaka – Veria – Thessaloniki – Kavala, Airotel Galaxy After morning mass and breakfast, we drive to Kavala. On the way, we’ll stop at Veria, where “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17). Lunch on the way to Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight at hotel
May 31, Wednesday: Kavala - Phillippi – Kavala St. Paul landed in Kavala with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city. Continue on to Philippi where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul. Lunch at nearby restaurant. Dinner and overnight at Kavala
June 1, Thursday: Kavala – Ouranoupoli – Thessaloniki, Capsis Hotel After breakfast we depart to Ouranoupoli. Situated at the Mount Athos peninsula and at a distance of 120km away from Thessalonica lies Ouranoupolis, the Gate of Mount Athos. Ouranoupolis is a divine landscape, combining
mountainous and sea beauties. We will take a cruise around the amazing Monasteries of the Holy Mountain of Mount Athos. After lunch at Ouranoupoli, we continue our tour to Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight
June 2, Friday: Thessaloniki – Corinth, Sea View Hotel After breakfast, we depart to Corinth. On the way we stop for a quick lunch. Dinner and overnight near Corinth in the scenic and peaceful Loutra Oreas Elenis area
June 3, Saturday: Ancient Corinth After breakfast, we visit Ancient Corinth, where under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, St. Paul preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters to them. Lunch at a nearby restaurant. Dinner and overnight
June 4, Sunday: Corinth – Free Day Breakfast at the hotel, a chance for study with Fr. Kamal, lunch and dinner at a nearby restaurant and overnight.
June 5, Monday: Corinth – Athens, Titania Hotel Breakfast and departure to Athens. On the way we will make a short stop at the Corinth Canal which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea and continue to hotel in Athens. Walking tour to the Roman Catholic Cathedral and meet with one of the bishops for presentation and discussions and possible liturgy/mass. Lunch in a nearby restaurant. Dinner and overnight at our Athens hotel
June 6, Tuesday: Half Day Athens Sightseeing After breakfast at the Hotel, we will visit the famous Lycabettus Hill at 277 meters high above sea level by the Teleferique, a tall hill noted for offering unbeatable views of Athens. Legend has it that wolves used to seek refuge on this hill. That probably explains its name "Lycabettus: the hill walked by wolves". We will have the chance to visit the visible from all over the city, the brilliantly white, 18th-century church of St. George. Next stop will be visiting the famous Byzantine and Christian Museum and an Icon workshop. Lunch at a nearby restaurant. Dinner at hotel and overnight
June 7, Wednesday: Athens Sight Seeing Half Day This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. We will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (short stop). Continue and pass by the Prime Minister's residence (ex Royal Palace) guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian's Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, the Constitution Square (Syntagma). On the Acropolis visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally "the harmony between material and spirit", the monument that "puts order in the mind", the Parthenon. Continue and visit the place where at last the statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era: The new Acropolis museum. Lunch. Dinner at hotel and overnight
June 8, Thursday: Departure After breakfast, transfer to the Airport for check-in and departure.
Optional add-on to Patmos June 8, Thursday: Ferry to Patmos St. Paul’s Episcopal Church June 9, Friday to June 10, Saturday – Patmos Bellingham, Washington June 11, Sunday: Ferry to Athens www.stpaulsbellingham.org June 12, Monday Departure 360-733-2890
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