10 NIGHTS In Paul’s Footsteps Your photo here The Acts of the Apostles will come alive as we go out with 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. Cost Estimate* Athens • Corinth • Meteora • Beroea • Kavala • Philippi • Thessaloniki • Patmos • Kusadasi • Ephesus $6490 Ex Australia • Optional Wonders of Malta Extension Come follow me ! In Paul’s Footsteps 10 Nights / 13 Days Athens (2 Nights) / Corinth / Meteora (2) / Beroea / Kavala (1) / Philippi / Thessaloniki (1) / Patmos (2) / Kusadasi (2) / Ephesus Plus Optional Malta Extension – 3 Nights *Cost Inclusions: The listed price estimate has been based on the following specific package criteria (to be modified based on your specific requirements): § Return Economy Class airfares flying Emirates (Low season) - Inclusive of Airlines taxes and fees / departing from key Australian airports § Internal European airfares (as required) § Accommodation in central moderate 3 - 4 star Hotels (all subject to availability at the time of booking) § Breakfast and Dinner daily § Deluxe Air-Conditioned Motor Coach throughout the itinerary § Deluxe ferry crossing from Athens to Patmos and private charter ferry from Patmos to Kusadasi. § Local border crossing and port taxes where applicable (NB: Visa fees are not included in the tour price) § Escorted by experienced local pilgrimage Guide and Footprints Tour Escort from Australia § All sightseeing and entrance fees as per detailed itinerary § Estimated costs listed are based on a group size of 30 paying passengers with two complimentary places (air and land) for Spiritual Leader and Assistant (NB: price will be modified higher or lower dependent on your preferred group size and final number of free places required) Eg. We can provide costs for 15/20/25/30/35/40 persons etc. § Porterage at hotels where applicable § Optional stipend and/or fundraising to be levied (if required) § NB: “Tipping Made Easy” - an additional surcharge per person/per day will be added Phone: 1300 131 337 [email protected] ITINERARY © Copyright 2017 – 2018 Footprints Travel DAY 1: MONDAY - DEPART FOR GREECE DAY 2: TUESDAY - ARRIVE ATHENS Theme: The Athenians Athens today is the thriving capital of Greece, but, more importantly, we have entered into the world of the New Testament where Paul and his companions established the first Christian communities throughout his four missionary journeys. On arrival in Athens we will be met and transferred to our centrally located hotel. This evening we will celebrate our first group devotional time together. Athens overnight (D) DAY 3: WEDNESDAY - ATHENS & CORINTH Theme: The Corinthians HIGHPOINTS • Walk amongst the ancient sites of Athens • Outdoor Service in Ancient Corinth When the Apostle Paul first came to Athens it was predominantly a city which worshipped pagan gods. Paul was taken before the city council at the Areopagus Hill, a rough outcrop of limestone rock from which he preached the Gospel message to the Athenian philosophers (Acts 17:16-21). We begin our pilgrimage with a tour of Christian Athens including the Acropolis, the Areopagus where St Paul delivered his famous sermon about the identity of "the Unknown God" (Acts 17:15-34). Visit the Ancient Agora where Paul preached about Jesus and the resurrection, the Plaka (Old Greece), and explore the Parthenon. Also see the Kallimármaro Stadium, dating back to 330BC and restored for the first modern Olympic Games held here in 1896. Journey out to Ancient Corinth this afternoon where the apostle Paul lived for almost two years, teaching the people the Word of God and converting many. On arrival we will view the Erastus inscription dating back to the first century AD and concerning a Christian convert, Erastus (Rom 16:24) who was the ‘director of public works’ in Corinth. We visit the ancient ruins and see the site where he preached the Gospel from the Rostrum. See the Peirene fountain, and the 6th century BC Temple of Apollo before an outdoor Church Service together in this stunning pilgrimage setting. Finally, we come to Cenchreae, the ancient port from where St Paul said farewell to the believers and departed for Ephesus (Acts 18:18). Athens overnight (BD) Phone: 1300 131 337 [email protected] DAY 4: THURSDAY – VIA HOSIOS LOUKAS TO METEORA Theme: The Byzantines HIGHPOINTS th • Explore the peaceful setting of the 11 century Hosios Loukas We travel north today to the remarkable Byzantine Monastery of Hosios Loukas, built in the 11th century on the slopes of Mt Helikon. In 1990 UNESCO included this site on their World Heritage List. On arrival we will have a group devotional and prayer time here in the grounds of the Monastery and be taken on a guided tour of the Churches, crypt and surrounds where we admire the amazing frescoes and mosaics. We continue north this afternoon to the small town of Kalambaka built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks of Meteora. Kalambaka overnight (BD) DAY 5: FRIDAY – METEORA EXPLORATION Theme: The Monastics HIGHPOINTS • Explore the monasteries built atop the columns of the sky • Be uplifted by the prayerful atmosphere We spend some time today marvelling at this unique phenomenon of nature – 24 perpendicular rocks where 600 years ago Byzantine monks chose to worship God and build their cave-like Monastic community of Meteora. We will visit some of these living monasteries by foot and view the extraordinary collection of priceless religious frescoes and other treasures that will make this a remarkable day. Enjoy some free time this afternoon. Kalambaka overnight (BD) DAY 6: SATURDAY - VIA BEROEA TO KAVALA Theme: The Bereans HIGHPOINTS • Discover the ‘hidden churches’ of Beroea • Journey in the pathways of Paul Today we journey north by coach to Beroea (modern Veria). The “Bema” - an impressive monument to Paul - is believed to incorporate the steps from the original synagogue from which he preached the gospel to the Jews, who welcomed the word of God and began to study the Scriptures (Acts 17:10-12). A small church was established here and we will also view the ‘hidden churches’, a collection of about 20 Byzantine structures, camouflaged in the form of barns from the invading Ottoman Turks. Continue east along the ancient route of the Apostle Paul to the port city of Kavala (ancient Neapolis), once named "Christoupolis" after being the first European city to accept Christianity. It was here that Paul, St Timothy and St Silas first landed from Troas (Acts 16:11), one of the great moments in the history of Christianity. Kavala overnight (BD) Phone: 1300 131 337 [email protected] DAY 7: SUNDAY – VIA PHILIPPI TO THESSALONIKI Theme: The Philippians HIGHPOINTS • Church at the stunning Baptistery of Lydia • Explore Ancient Philippi Journey out to Philippi, named after Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. It was here that Paul won his first European convert, a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira (Acts 16:12-40). Visit the Baptistery of Lydia for a beautiful outdoor Church service in this breathtaking oasis on the River Zygaktis, and to renew our Baptismal vows. Visit the market place (where Paul and Silas were brought before the rulers) and the cistern which tradition identifies as the place where Paul was imprisoned. In the ancient theatre we will hear the story of Paul’s arrest, imprisonment and miraculous release. We depart Philippi and journey east along the ancient route of the Apostle Paul via Amphipolis (Acts 17:1) where we view the ruins of many Christian basilicas. Finally we arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, founded in 315 BC, and where Paul preached during the winters of 49-50AD and wrote the two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. It was here that he established the first Christian Church in Europe. Thessaloniki overnight (BD) DAY 8: MONDAY – THESSALONIKI & TRAVEL TO PATMOS Theme: The Thessalonians HIGHPOINTS • Visit sites associated with Paul’s time in Thessaloniki Our visit this morning will include the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius, as well as the Rotunda where we can see pieces of the pulpit from which Paul preached. View the Roman Agora where he also preached. Nearby we shall visit St Demetrios’ Church dedicated to a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity, and was later martyred. View its valuable mosaics and frescoes before descending in to the crypt where we find the remains of some ancient Roman baths and streets. We then ascend to the ‘ano poli’ (old town) to the Byzantine Vlatadon Monastery, built over Jason’s house (Acts 17:5) where Paul stayed during his time in Thessaloniki. We will then be transferred to the airport for our flight to Athens. On arrival we will be transferred directly to the Athenian port of Piraeus to embark our deluxe boat transfer to the Dodecanese island of Patmos, where St John the Beloved wrote the Book of Revelation. Patmos overnight (BD) DAY 9: TUESDAY – PATMOS DAY Theme: St John of Revelations HIGHPOINTS • Pray in the Cave of Revelation • Explore the maze-like narrow streets of Chora Lying between the islands of Leros and Ikaria is the 'ascetic shaped' Patmos, called the ‘Jerusalem of the Aegean’ due to the overwhelming atmosphere of the island during the great celebrations of Christianity. We begin our day with a walking tour of the main square of the village of Chora. This is the traditional settlement Phone: 1300 131 337 [email protected] and capital of Patmos, where the narrow streets were designed to ward off pirates over the centuries. Ascend to the Monastery of John the Beloved, a huge fortress-like building dating from the 11th century, for a visit. Our exploration of this living monastery will culminate with time in the actual Cave of Revelation where God chose to reveal to John the beloved those mysteries of the last book of the Bible - Revelations.