A Spiritual Journey to Greece with a Greek Isle Cruise In the Footsteps of St. Paul & the Early Christian Community Including Athens, Meteora, Thessaloniki, Philippi, Mykonos, Ephesus, Crete, Santorini, Corinth, Rhodes & More Suggested 14-Day Itinerary DAY 1: DEPART THE USA: We depart en route to Athens via substantial number of people who were receptive to the Gospel. New York, with complimentary meals & beverages served aloft. Paul returned through the area of Berea during his third missionary journey, and despite the earlier opposition, many of DAY 2: ARRIVE ATHENS: Upon our arrival in Athens, we are the Bereans were converted. We stop at the site, where tradition met by our Catholic Travel Centre representative and escorted to holds, the Apostle Paul stood and delivered his sermons. our private motor coach for transfer to our hotel to rest from our After our visit, we continue on to Thessaloniki. Paul journey. Dinner this evening is at our hotel. (D) established the first church here (Acts 17:1-10). Ruins of an early Christian church are near the Arch of Galerius, perhaps the DAY 3: ATHENS / KALAMBAKA: Today, we begin with Mass result of various plundering armies that invaded this region of at a local cathedral. Greece. We will visit Hagia Sophia, one of the oldest churches After Mass we enjoy still standing in Thessaloniki. St. Sophia, constructed in the a panoramic tour 8th century has been both a cathedral and a mosque. It was of Athens before we reconverted to a church in 1912. We also visit The Church of depart for the town of Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki, dating from a Kalambaka, situated time when it was the second largest city of the Byzantine Empire. at the foot of the We check-in to our hotel for dinner and the evening. (B, D) Meteora peaks. We check-in to our hotel DAY 6: THESSALONIKI: EXCURSION TO PHILIPPI & for dinner and the KAVALA: This morning we travel to Philippi. Along the way evening. (B, D) we make a short stop for photos at the Lion statue of Amphipolis. Afterwards, we continue to Philippi, the site where the apostle DAY 4: KALAMBAKA: VISIT OF METEORA: Today will visit Paul came and worked, establishing a strong church. To this the breathtaking Byzantine monasteries of Meteora. Derived congregation, later he sent his Philippian letter. Of all the from the Greek word “meteorizome,” meaning “to hang in the churches Paul founded, probably none was so near and dear to air,” the structures seem to do just that. During their heyday in him as the church at Philippi (Acts 16:9-33). the 15th and 16th centuries, the number monasteries grew to 24. We see the river where Lydia is thought to have been baptized, The buildings were decorated with frescoes and icons from the the ruins of a prison where Paul and Sylas had been kept, the great artists of the day. Agora, 5th and 6th century Basilica and the Theater. Following Originally the only access to the monasteries was my means the Baptism of Lydia, the first Christian church in Europe was of very long ladders which could be drawn up when not in use, established here. We will visit the ruins of the area, including or in a basket or net suspended on ropes from a winch which was the site commemorating Lydia’s baptism and the place where St. mounted in a winching tower above the void below: according Paul was imprisoned. We also visit Kavala, the ancient port of to travelers in the past the ropes were not replaced until they Neapolis (Acts 16:11) before returning to our hotel for dinner broke. Steps have now been cut in the rock face, and there is a and the evening. (B, D) fine modern road serving the main monasteries. DAY 7: THESSALONIKI / HOSIOS LOUKAS MONASTERY / DELPHI: This morning, we travel to Delphi, stopping first to visit the Monastery of Hosios Loukas, an historic walled monastery. It is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art, and is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. We continue on to Delphi, home to Apollo and the most famous oracle of antiquity. Its history dates to the Mycenaean period and in Homer’s Iliad, We will reach the monasteries by climbing the stairs – no the site was referred ropes for this group! The monasteries are veritable Byzantine to as Pytho. The museums exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique oracle or the Pythia mosaics and frescoes. After our visit, we proceed to our hotel for as it was called was dinner and the evening. (B, D) a woman over 50 who abandoned DAY 5: KALAMBAKA / BEREA (VERIA) / THESSALONIKI: normal life and lived This morning we’re off to Berea. The Apostle Paul visited the her life in seclusion city during his second missionary journey where he found a to serve the many who came to have their questions answered. The Pythia seated on a tripod above a deep crevasse, would DAY 10: CRUISE: RHODES: We arrive in Rhodes this morning, pronounce her prophesies while the priests wrote them down with some time to explore the island and its charm. The island, and translated them to the people. Among the most noted to sometimes referred to as the Island of the Knights St. John, who come with questions were King Croesus and King Midas. We’ll built the medieval town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. take some time to explore this fascinating site and museum before continuing to our hotel for dinner and the evening. (B, D) DAY 8: DELPHI /ATHENS / CRUISE TO MYKONOS: After breakfast, we depart for the port near Athens, where we board our waiting ship. Our cruise this afternoon will take us to the island of Mykonos. We celebrate Mass today The included excursion today visits the Old Town and the town on the ship in route. of Lindos, with its Acropolis. Mass is celebrated on board before Upon arrival in Mykonos, dinner. (B, L, D) with its whitewashed houses and winding DAY 11: CRUISE: CRETE / SANTORINI: Early this morning streets, we are free to explore this picturesque island. Our dinner we arrive in Crete where ancient Heraklion may beckon you. and overnight are aboard our ship. (B, L, D) Note: All beverages Later, we continue on to the port of Santorini, where we have (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are included on the cruise, unlimited. some time on our own to explore this scenic town on our own. Santorini is one of the most magical of the Greek Isles, affording DAY 9: CRUISE: KUSADASI: VISIT OF EPHESUS / absolutely stunning views. Mass will be celebrated on board. PATMOS:This morning, we dock at Kusadasi, where we board Dinner is served on board. (B, L, D) our motor coach for Ephesus. In ancient times, it was the largest city and major harbor on the western coast. Silt in the harbor DAY 12: DISEMBARK IN ATHENS: CITY TOUR: We arrive has today placed the shoreline more than four miles west of the in port early this morning to find our motor coach waiting for us. location of the harbor in Roman times. We begin our visit of Athens with Mass at St. Dennis Cathedral. St. Paul founded the Church in Ephesus 53-56 AD. From After Mass, we enjoy a tour of the city of Athens, including the here, he wrote letters to Galatia, Philippi, and Corinth. We Agora where Paul addressed the Athenians (Acts 17; 15-34). visit the great theatre where St. Paul addressed the crowds We will also visit the famed Acropolis, Parthenon, Hadrian’s (Acts 19:29); also, the site of the scene of the riot from which Arch and the Temple of Zeus. We will have lunch together in Paul escaped. We will visit the ruins of an early 4th century the Plaka, with the balance of the day at leisure for last minute Christian church with a baptistery and bishop’s residence. This shopping or to visit a favorite site on our own Dinner tonight is church was named Church of the Virgin Mary and in 431 A.D, on our own. (B, L) the Third Ecumenical Council met here and affirmed Mary as Theotokos, ‘Mother of God.’ This church is also known as the DAY 13: ATHENS: EXCURSION TO CORINTH & Council Church. EPIDAURUS: This morning, we travel to Corinth, once the Early Christian tradition identified John the Apostle with largest city in the land now known as Greece. Here Paul spent Ephesus and affirmed that he wrote his Gospel here. We visit the 18 months, preaching to the Jews and Gentiles. In Corinth, Paul Basilica of St. John, built by Justinian in the 6th century. The worked with Aquila and Priscilla and his trial by Gallio took church houses the tomb of St. John. place in the agora. The community he founded here caused him Christian tradition has also associated Mary, mother of Jesus, much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters. Here with Ephesus, because of Jesus committing her to the care of ‘the we celebrate Mass. disciple whom He loved (John 19:26). Before returning to the We enjoy a special farewell lunch at a restaurant in Nauplion ship, we celebrate mass at the House of Virgin Mary, believed to and complete our day in Epidaurus, one of world’s best-preserved be the last residence of Mary. The peaceful site is sacred to both amphitheaters with remarkable acoustics. After our visit, we Christians and Muslims, and was visited by Popes Paul VI and return to our hotel.