In the Footsteps of Paul and Greek Islands Cruise June 17-28, 2016, 12 days, only $3995 Sponsored by St Paul’s UMC Learning on Location Committee

Day 1, Friday, June 17: Fly from Kansas City Day 5, Tuesday, June 21: Follow the route of the (contact our tour operator to fly from another airport). Via Egnatia and visit, like Paul and his companions, the area of , to see the famous funerary Day 2, Saturday, June 18: Arrive at the modern Lion of Amphipolis, and the site of . There, Athens airport built for the recent Olympics. Transfer you visit the Baptistery of Lydia near the river, where to your 4-star Athens hotel for overnight. Breakfast Paul baptized Lydia, his first European convert (Acts and dinner are included each day throughout the 16:12-15) and visit a lovely commemorative chapel. tour, as well as all meals on the cruise. Paul’s preaching got him jailed in Philippi, till a miracle freed him and his companions—and led to Day 3, Sunday, June 19: Admire the architectural the baptism of the Philippian jailor and his family miracles of ancient Athens with your guide at the (Acts 16:25 ff). Also, visit the ruins of the Forum of world renowned Acropolis--see the Propylea, the Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, “Prison of Paul,” and Erectheum and the Parthenon. Visit Mars Hill, where the Theater. Drive to (biblical Neapolis), a Paul delivered his powerful sermon on the “Unknown picturesque port and see the Byzantine Castle and God” (Acts 17:22-31). View the Agora, the ancient the Roman Aqueduct—where Paul first landed in center of the economic and public life, where Paul Europe after being called by the vision of the Man of preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the (Acts 16:9-11). Return to for coach tour, see Constitution Square with the House dinner and overnight. of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium, and Day 6, Wednesday, June 22: In the morning, drive the many stunning neoclassical buildings of Athens. in Thessaloniki to see the landmark of the city, the The afternoon is free to explore, including the famous White Tower, the Walls of the Byzantine Acropolis, tourist area of the Plaka. the Roman Arch of Galerius, and the Rotonda. Visit two of the city’s oldest and most admired Christian Day 4, Monday, June 20: Your journey in the churches, the Basilicas of St. Demetrius and St. mainland of Greece begins with the drive from Sophia (Divine Wisdom). Continue to Kalambaka, Athens to Thessaloniki. On the way, you view the where you visit one of the amazing Byzantine famous Thermopylae Pass (battle of the 300 under monasteries of Meteora, perched on top of gigantic Spartan king Leonidas), the beautiful Valley of Tembi, rock pinnacles in one of the most fantastic geological the legendary mountain Olympus and the Byzantine formations in the world. Dinner and overnight in a 4- Castle of Platamonas. You arrive at (biblical star hotel in the village of Kalambaka. Berea), where you visit the Bema (speaking place) of the Apostle Paul (Acts 17:11). Continue to Day 7, Thursday, June 23: Travel to scenic Delphi, Thessaloniki (to whose people Paul wrote the letters one of the most beautiful places on the face of the to the Thessalonians). Dinner and overnight in your earth, which in antiquity was believed to be the deluxe hotel. “navel” (omphalos) of the world. Walk on the Sacred Way to see the Athenian Treasury, the Temple of Later, sail for the isle of Patmos, where St John Apollo, where the oracle delivered ambiguous received The Revelation. Optional shore excursion prophecies and the Theater. Visit the Museum’s departs by coach from the port of Scala and enjoy a splendid collection of ancient works of art, including short drive to the village of Chora, where the the Sphinx of the Naxians, the Silver Bull, the Column Monastery of St. John is built within the walls of a of the Dancers, the “Omphalos” and the pride of the strong fortification. Afterwards, drive back to the port museum, the 5th century B.C. bronze “Charioteer.” of Scala and enjoy some free time in this quaint and Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight. picturesque town.

Day 8, Friday, June 24: This morning board a ship Day 10, Sunday, June 26: Morning arrival at from the Celestyal Cruises line and sail to the world- Heraklion, Crete, where you can choose to visit the famous island of Mykonos. The town is a small Minoan Palace of Knossos, home to king Minos and architectural miracle, with its gleaming whitewashed the legendary Minotaur. In the Archaeological buildings and windmills, and one of the most Museum of Heraklion are unbelievable works of art cosmopolitan places in the world. Guided walking (pieces of sculpture and pottery, jewellery, arms, tour of the city is included, led by the tour escort who frescoes), that have been found in a number of will be with you throughout the cruise. Minoan sites all over Crete. Then, sail north to the isle of Santorini, the most breathtaking of all the Day 9, Saturday, June 25: After the overnight Greek islands. The exquisite whitewashed villages, cruise to the Turkish coast, the recommended including the town of Fira, or Thira, cling to volcanic optional tour drives through the colorful town of cliffs, accessible by cable-car, or mule. After you Kusadasi to reach biblical Ephesus. Paul spent a reach the city, a guided-tour of the city is included. major part of his missionary journey here (Acts 19) and of course wrote the Letter to the Ephesians (one Day 11, Monday. June 27: You arrive in Piraeus, of the Seven Churches of the Revelation). Your Athens, early in the morning and, after breakfast, you guided walking tour takes you through one of the disembark and begin your trip to Ancient Corinth, the most magnificent excavations in the world. See the once glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the Aquilla and Priscilla and spent a year and a half heated Baths of Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian working and preaching the Gospel (Acts 18). You and the Latrians, the Library of Celsus, and The visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Great Theatre, the largest one in antiquity with a Temples and the famous Bema, where Paul stood capacity of 24,000 where Paul caused a riot (Acts before Gallio accused by the Jews of Corinth. Then, 19:22ff). Walk along the Arcadian Way, where Mark you drive to Cenchreae, the little harbor Paul sailed Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. back to Asia from, thus ending his second missionary Driving back to Kusadasi and just outside Ephesus, journey. Back to Athens for your farewell dinner at a view the Basilica of St. John, which was erected over tavern in the Plaka area and hotel overnight. his grave in the 6th century A.D. by Emperor Justinian. Before returning to the ship, free time in the Day 12, Tuesday, June 28: Fly home with new in- shopping city of Kusadasi, which specializes in sights into Paul’s life and teachings and memories of oriental carpets, jewelry, and leather goods. a wonderful tour shared by friends and family.

Total price is $3795 based on land and air costs as of February 15, 2015, and for a group of at least 16 total travelers. Price includes r/t airfare from MCI and other airports, excellent hotels, guided touring and entrance fees as per the itinerary, all tipping, breakfast and dinner daily on land portion and all meals on the cruise.

Windmills of Mykonos