PATHWAYS OF ST PAUL HOLY INNOCENTS’ PARISH PILGRIMAGE

DEPARTURE: MONDAY 20TH APRIL 2015

- A 20 Day Pilgrimage Journey -

$8,690 AUD Inclusive of all taxes / levies Spiritual Chaplain: Fr Peter Krigovsky

TOUR CODE: 5PV41 ITINERARY OVERVIEW

converting many. We visit the ancient ruins and MEAL CODE DAY 6: SATURDAY 25TH APRIL see the site where he preached the Gospel from METEORA TO PHILIPPI & KAVALA B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner the Rostrum. See the Peirene fountain, and the 6th century BC Temple of Apollo before Arise and journey east along the ancient route of the Apostle Paul via Amphipolis (Acts 17:1) DAY 1: MONDAY 20TH APRIL an outdoor Mass in this stunning pilgrimage setting. Finally we come to Cenchreae, the and on to nearby Philippi, named after Philip DEPART FOR GREECE ancient port from where St Paul said farewell II, father of Alexander the Great. It was here to the believers and departed for Ephesus (Acts that St Paul won his first European convert, a DAY 2: TUESDAY 21ST APRIL 18:18). woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira (Acts 16:12-40). Visit the Baptistery of Lydia ARRIVE ATHENS Athens overnight (BD) for a beautiful outdoor Mass in this breathtaking Athens today is the thriving capital of Greece, oasis on the River Zygaktis, and to renew our but, more importantly, we have entered into the DAY 4: THURSDAY 23RD APRIL Baptismal vows. Visit the market place (where world of the New Testament where St Paul and VIA HOSIOS LOUKAS MONASTERY TO St Paul and St Silas were brought before the his companions established the first Christian rulers) and the cistern which tradition identifies METEORA communities throughout his four missionary as the place where St Paul was imprisoned. Today we depart Athens, travelling west to the journeys. Continue on to the port city of Kavala (ancient remarkable Byzantine Monastery of Hosios On arrival in Athens we will be met and Neapolis), once named “Christoupolis” Loukas, built in the 11th century on the slopes transferred to our centrally located hotel. This after being the first European city to accept of Mt Helikon. In 1990 UNESCO included evening we will celebrate our first Mass together. Christianity. It was here that St Paul, St this site on their World Heritage List. On arrival Timothy and St Silas first landed from Troas Athens overnight (D) we will celebrate Mass in the grounds of the (Acts 16:11), one of the great moments in the Monastery and be taken on a guided tour of history of Christianity. DAY 3: WEDNESDAY 22ND APRIL the Churches, crypt and surrounds where we Kavala overnight (BD) ATHENS AND CORINTH admire the amazing frescoes and mosaics. When St Paul first came to Athens it was We continue north this afternoon to the small predominantly a city which worshipped pagan town of Kalambaka built at the foot of the DAY 7: SUNDAY 26TH APRIL gods. St Paul was taken before the city council at majestic grey rocks of Meteora. VIA THESSALONIKI TO KOS the Areopagus Hill, a rough outcrop of limestone Kalambaka overnight (BD) Travel west this morning to Thessaloniki, rock from which he preached the Gospel message to Greece’s second city, founded in 315 BC, and the Athenian philosophers (Acts 17:16-21). DAY 5: FRIDAY 24TH APRIL where St Paul preached during the winters of 49- We begin our pilgrimage with a tour of 50AD and wrote the two epistles to the ancient METEORA EXPLORATION Christian Athens including the Acropolis, the Thessalonians. It was here that he established Areopagus where St Paul delivered his famous We spend some time today marvelling at the first Christian Church in Europe. See the sermon about the identity of “the Unknown this unique phenomenon of nature – 24 ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of God” (Acts 17:15-34). Visit the Ancient Agora perpendicular rocks where 600 years ago Galerius and the Roman Agora where St Paul and the Plaka (Old Greece), and explore Byzantine monks chose to worship God and once preached. Time permitting we shall visit the Parthenon. Also see the Kallimármaro build their Monastic community of Meteora. St Demetrios’ Church with its valuable mosaics Stadium, dating back to 330BC and restored We will visit some of these living monasteries and frescoes and will drive up to the upper town, for the first modern Olympic Games held here and view the extraordinary collection of priceless which offers a marvelous view of the city. in 1896. religious frescoes and other treasures that will This afternoon we are transferred to Thessaloniki Journey out to Ancient Corinth this afternoon make this a remarkable day. airport for our flight via Athens to the Greek where the apostle Paul lived for almost two Enjoy some free time this afternoon. island of Kos. years, teaching the people the Word of God and Kalambaka overnight (BD) Kos overnight (BD) ITINERARY OVERVIEW

DAY 8: MONDAY 27TH APRIL hieromonk Nikiphoros who was cured from the Lady was proclaimed “Mother of God”. KOS TO PATMOS plague after praying to St Luke the Evangelist. We ascend the hill to the House of the Virgin Visit the Convent of Zoodochos Pigi with Mary where it is said Mary spent the later years On our drive to the port this morning, we icons dating from the 16th to the 18th century. of her life. We celebrate our group Mass here in will view the Tree of Hippocrates, under Finally we will enjoy a short scenic tour of the one of the chapels. Finally we visit the restored which, according to the legend, Hippocrates island. remains of the 6th century Basilica of St John (considered the father of medicine) taught Patmos overnight (BD) at Celcuk where a small church was originally his pupils the art of medicine. Paul of Tarsus built over the tomb of St John the Evangelist. purportedly taught here as well. Kusadasi overnight (BD) We then board our boat transfer to the DAY 10: WEDNESDAY 29TH APRIL Dodecanese island of Patmos, where St John PATMOS TO TURKEY wrote the Book of Revelation. Lying between Early this morning we depart Patmos by DAY 12: FRIDAY 1ST MAY the islands of Leros and Ikaria is the ‘ascetic private charter vessel to Kusadasi, doorway PERGAMUM AND CANAKKALE shaped’ Patmos, called the ‘Jerusalem of the to Ephesus, the Churches of Revelation and This morning we set out towardsIzmir, once Aegean’ due to the overwhelming atmosphere Gallipoli. the site of ancient Smyrna, one of the Seven of the island during the great celebrations of On arrival we will be met and transferred by Churches of Revelation (Rev 2:8-11). This was Christianity. coach to our centrally located hotel for the home to a lively Christian community under Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at remainder of the day at leisure. the pastoral care of its bishop – the saintly leisure to rest and enjoy the atmosphere of this Kusadasi overnight (BD) Polycarp. After Mass here we will continue amazing and historic island. north to Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17), one of the Patmos overnight (BD) most impressive classical sites in Turkey and DAY 11: THURSDAY 30TH APRIL another of the Churches of Revelation. Once EPHESUS PILGRIMAGE described by St John as the place “where Satan DAY 9: TUESDAY 28TH APRIL We travel directly to Ephesus this morning, has his throne”, this too was the site where the PATMOS EXPLORATION the most famous of the Seven Churches of first Christians were martyred by Rome (Rev We begin our day with a walking tour of the Revelation (Rev 2:1-7) where St Paul spent 2:12-17). On arrival we will view the region’s main square of the village of Chora. This is the more than two years in the course of his third longest building, the Red Basilica dedicated to traditional settlement and capital of Patmos, missionary journey. It was to the Christian St John the Apostle. where the narrow streets were designed to ward community of Ephesus that St Paul wrote Reboarding our coach, we continue north, off pirates over the centuries. Ascend to the his greatest and most challenging letter (the finally arriving inCanakkale . Monastery of St John the Beloved, a huge epistle to the Ephesians) and also succeeded in Canakkale overnight (BD) fortress-like building dating from the 11th converting many away from worship of the god century, for a visit and celebration of Mass. Artemis. DAY 13: SATURDAY 2ND MAY Our exploration of this living monastery will Our visit today will include the ruins where St culminate with time in the actual Cave of Paul lived and preached. See the prison of St ALEXANDER TROAS, ASSOS & TROY Revelation where God chose to reveal to St Paul; walk through the ancient marble streets We resume our Paulian trail at Alexander John the mysteries of the last book of the Bible founded in the 10th century BC and see this Troas where the apostle spent seven days as - the Apocalypse. The cave is now at the foot of most ‘complete’ Roman city providing us with he returned from Macedonia. Troas is also the monastery, which houses priceless icons and an excellent window into Imperial Rome. mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:13 as the place manuscripts, sacred relics, vestments embroiled Pass the Temple of Hadrian, the Library where St Paul left his cloak. St Paul had so with silver or gold threads and bejeweled with of Celsus, the enormous amphitheatre (Acts much to say to his friends that they stayed up precious stones. 19:29-31), and finally come to the ruins of the all night preaching here, although one listener Later continue to the active Convent of Christian Basilica where the Third Ecumenical (Eutychus) survived despite falling three stories Evangelismos (Annunciation) built by the Council took place in 431AD, and where Our from a window. The incident was only a brief ITINERARY OVERVIEW interruption however in St Paul’s preaching Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in this incredible All Bookings to that continued to daybreak! (Acts 20:7-12) city. HARVEST PILGRIMAGES, After Mass at Troas we journey south to Istanbul overnight (BD) Polding Centre, 11th Floor, Assos. Here St Paul had arranged to rejoin 133 Liverpool Street his companions before sailing onto Miletus. DAY 17: WEDNESDAY 6TH MAY Sydney NSW 2000 Explore the remains of the Council Chamber Tel: 02 9390 5460 • Fax: 02 9390 5480 STANBUL TO CAPPADOCIA and the 6th century BC Temple of Athena. Also Email: [email protected] see the impressive Acropolis and experience Today after Mass, we will be transferred by Toll Free: 1800 819 156 the brilliant acoustics of the Amphitheatre. coach to Istanbul airport for our domestic flight www.harvestpilgrims.com Troy to Kayseri and then a short coach trip to the We finally come to Homer’s , famous for ______its legendary wooden horse. We will explore amazing Cappadocia region. We will proceed this extraordinary site before returning to to our hotel for check-in before dinner. © Copyright 2015 Harvest Australia Pty Ltd. Canakkale. A visit to the Cappadocia region is like stepping All rights reserved. Reproduction of these tours/itineraries Canakkale overnight (BD) into a fairy tale setting. The rocks of Cappadocia in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. near Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular ACN 056849426 / TRAVEL AGENT LIC 2TA003632 / pillars and minaret-like forms. The volcanic HARVEST AUSTRALIA PTY LTD DAY 14: SUNDAY 3RD MAY deposits from ancient volcanoes millions of years ANZAC COVE & GALLIPOLI TO ago are soft rocks that the people of the villages at ISTANBUL the heart of the Cappadocia region carved out to SPECIAL NOTES This morning we board a private charter vessel form houses, churches and monasteries. Göreme All details of sightseeing listed and order of daily for an inspired journey along the Gallipoli became a monastic centre between 300 - 1200 arrangements must remain subject to change due to any Peninsula where 7,594 Australian and 2,431 AD. unforeseen circumstances, which may arise, or at the Cappadocia overnight (BD) discretion of the pilgrimage leadership. New Zealand soldiers lost their lives in battle This overview is based on the standard pilgrimage during World War I. See the Anzac Cove departure and return dates. Please refer to your personal coastline emerge before our very eyes, giving DAY 18: THURSDAY 7TH MAY flight itinerary for more specific details or amendments pertaining to your travel. a rare perspective of the troops landing on CAPPADOCIA 25th April 1915. After disembarking, we visit It is said that St Paul was looking for a secure Cost pp Tour Anzac Cove where we will take some time to Departure Date reflect. We then drive pastCourtney’s and place after he was expelled from Jerusalem. AUD Code Steele’s Post Quinn’s post. the Nek, He came to this region and established its first and Visit 20th April 2015 $8,690 5PV41 Chunuk Bair, the New Zealand Monuments Christian colony with his followers. Furthermore, inc. Tax St Gregory of Nyssa, one of the Cappadocian and Lone Pine Cemetery where we will Single Room Supplement $1,290.00 celebrate a touching Eucharist, coming in faith Fathers who lived in the area said, on his return to pay tribute and pray for the souls of the from Palestine in 380 AD, that the Holy Spirit Prepaid Tipping $270.00 was not confined to Jerusalem, arguing ‘One heroes of those tragic months of 1915. * Costs have been based on prices as at November 2014 and must remain might more justly consider that He dwelt in the subject to possible change in the unlikely event of significant exchange Our journey continues east this afternoon to Cappadocian nation more than anywhere else; rate variations, airfare increases and minimum group size contingencies. Istanbul – a glorious city uniquely located on for how many altars there are there – one could two continents. hardly count so many in all the rest of the world’. SIMPLE BOOKING PROCEDURES Istanbul overnight (BD) We begin our day with a very special Mass at • Contact Harvest to place your booking and to advise any other extension plans. a Chapel built into the mountain by the early • Send a $600AUD deposit per person with completed DAY 15: MONDAY 4TH MAY Christians at Avanos. After Mass, continue on pilgrims booking form to Harvest Pilgrimages in Sydney. Cheques to be made payable to Harvest ISTANBUL DAY to view pottery production using ancient and traditional techniques. See the extraordinary Pilgrimages or nominate Credit Card details where shown. We begin our day at the Church of St Anthony mushroom-shaped “Fairy Chimneys” in the of Padua, where we will celebrate Mass. We • Await Harvest Pilgrimage’s letter of confirmation Devrent Valley that are pieces of volcanic containing receipt, visa(s) information (as applicable) then commence our special private city cruise rocks that have been beaten and spectacularly and travel insurance detail along with any other along the Bosphorus where we will sail past shaped by the wind and rain. Onwards to the specific travel detail. the Ottoman Palaces, Byzantine fortresses, old Christian village of Cavusin. • Make balance of payment 7 weeks prior to departure. Beylerbeyi Palace and Suleimans Mosque. • Collect or await the delivery of final tour documentation Visit Goreme, an “open-air” museum holding including Cabin bag and pilgrims journal and ticket Continue on to visit the 6th century Basilica the earliest churches and carved chapels wallet approximately two weeks prior to departure Cistern, the largest of several hundred ancient presenting the finest examples of Byzantine date. cisterns that lie beneath the city. Explore the frescoes. Highlights here will be the Dark enormous Topkapi Palace. Onwards then to Church, St Barbara Church, Buckle Church INCLUSIONS the Grand Bazaar, with over 4,000 exotic tiny and the Nunnery. Airfares: Airfares: Economy class airfare Ex Sydney shops. flying Emirates (N.B. Airlines taxes are included at This afternoon travel to the marvellous Istanbul overnight (BD) approximately $140 per person on standard itinerary construction of the Kaymakli Underground and subject to fluctuations). City which hid Christians from Arab invaders Accommodation & Meals: Based on moderate DAY 16: TUESDAY 5TH MAY and view the Ortahisar Natural Rock Castle. standard accommodation throughout with breakfast and dinner daily. Cappadocia overnight (BD) ISTANBUL Miscellaneous inclusions: Deluxe Air-Conditioned After Mass this morning we will visit the Motor coach with driver • Local Tour Escort • Sightseeing and entrance fees throughout as per Byzantine Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque DAY 19: FRIDAY 8TH MAY itinerary. and the incredible Hagia Sophia (meaning DEPART TURKEY Not Included: Passport and Visa Costs (if applicable) ‘Holy Wisdom’). Built in 548 AD, Hagia • Other meals not stated • Items of a personal nature Sophia was the greatest Church in Christendom including phone calls, laundry, beverages, etc. • DAY 20: SATURDAY 9TH MAY Travel insurance (Harvest will recommend a special until 1453 when Constantinople fell to the group policy rate). Ottoman Empire. ARRIVE AUSTRALIA