A Pilgrimage to Greece & Turkey to the Steps of St. Paul

Under The Spiritual Direction Of Fr. June Ramos

13 DAYS

FROM $4,699

Date

October 5 - 17, 2023

Activity Level

Moderate

Book By

Group Limit

40

Pilgrimage Overview

Join St. June Ramos on a pilgrimage to Greece & Turkey!

Book With Confidence

All new travel bookings automatically come with our Book with Confidence Travel Plan*—free of charge. This plan gives pilgrims the ability to move their booking to another destination or simply a different available departure date in our vast travel portfolio, no questions asked. They just need to let us know 120 days* before departure and we’ll waive all penalties and get them booked on a new pilgrimage.

*The Book with Confidence Travel Plan allows for any new booking made with Holy Land Travel Center to be changed to a different destination or to another available departure date. Notice of change in travel plans must be given 120 days before departure; standard cancellation penalties will apply for full cancellation without rebooking or changes made within 120 days to departure. Applicable price and eligible promotions for the new tour will apply; if new trip is less expensive, a future travel credit will be issued for the difference in price. Cannot be applied to Passion Play Pilgrimages. No cash value. Credit is fully transferable. Offer reliant on space availability. Effective 10.7.2020. May be withdrawn at any time. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details.

Itinerary

DAY 1

Depart USA

Flight to Istanbul

Depart for your flights to Istanbul. Dinner on-board, relax, and anticipate your arrival the next day.

DAY 2

Arrive Istanbul

Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople! Upon arrival, we are welcomed by our Holy Land Travel Center representative. After visa formalities, we head to our hotel for a welcome reception.

DAY 3

Istanbul

Sultanahmet, Topkapi Palace, St. Sofia, Hippodrome

This morning we head to the Sultanahmet district. This World Heritage-listed district is crammed with historic buildings and enough magical atmospheres to keep you enthralled for days. Full day visits to the Topkapi Palace; overlooking the Sea of Marmara and containing numerous chambers, courtyards and royal treasures; the Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque, with its six minarets and thousands of blue tiles; and the Basilica of St. Sofia (Church of the Sacred Wisdom), now a museum, converted to a mosque from a Christian Basilica after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Next, we see the Hippodrome and the Obelisk brought from Egypt.

DAY 4

Istanbul

Grand Bazaar

This morning we will have time to visit the Grand Bazaar for shopping. The Grand Bazaar is an amazing place – literally a maze of streets. It is one of the largest undercover bazaars in the world and is even divided into areas like the leather section, or the rug section. We have an evening at leisure.

DAY 5

Depart Istanbul

Continue to Kavala

Today we depart Istanbul for Kavala, Greece. Meet our new Greek guide and driver and continue through our tour of Greece.

DAY 6

Kavala

Great Acropolis, Market Place, Theatre & Forum

Today we visit Kavala, which occupies the site of ancient Neapolis and Philippi (Acts 16:12-40, Phil.), that today lies as a major archaeological site near Krinides where St. Paul and St. Silas were imprisoned after St. Paul’s first sermon in what we today call Europe. After visiting the ruins of the great Acropolis, the Market Place, Theatre and Forum, we continue to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7

Thessaloniki / Veria

Rotonda, St George Church, Galerius Arch

This morning we visit the Rotonda, St. George Church, one of the oldest constructions in the city, the church was built at the end of the 4th century by the roman emperor. We will read today from the Acts 17:1-9 and “Letter to the Thessalonians”. This time period will become more alive to us as our visit will include the Galerius Arch, built a little before 305 AD in commemoration of Galerius’s victory over the Persians in 297. Next is the most beautiful basilica in the city St. Demetrius where Saint Paul was imprisoned, tortured and buried. We then visit Veria, one of Paul’s stops, where a Byzantine mosaic commemorates his preaching. We check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 8

Veria/ Kalambaka/ Athens

Meteora Monastery

This morning we leave Veria and continue to Kalambaka, a town near the Meteora Monastery. Later this afternoon we will visit the Grand Meteoran Monastery (Transfiguration of Christ), the most beautiful Byzantine monastery. The word Meteora means literally ‘hovering in the air’ as all the monasteries were built on top of the high rocks. Monks have been recorded living in these caves since the 11th century. The Church of the Transfiguration is the best known of the Monasteries and is built upon the highest rock, founded by Athanasios the Meteorite, a well-known figure in Orthodox monasticism. We continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.

DAY 9

Embark Cruise

Athens / Mykonos

Today we’ll leave Athens early in the morning for Piraeus and at 11:00 a.m. sail into the Aegean Sea. Our first island is one of the islands belonging to the Cyclades group of islands. This mountainous island of Mykonos has about 400 churches and is famous for its picturesque white houses and the island’s trademark, the charming windmills. Mykonos has a unique architecture of Byzantine and Western characteristics. Next, we will visit Our Church of the Virgin Paraportiani, on the main square Cathedral and an old Catholic Church and many boutiques and taverns along tiny, paved streets. Return on board of the ship.

DAY 10

Kusadasi Port & Patmos Port

Ephesus, Turkey - Patmos Greece

This morning you will arrive at the Turkish port city of Kusadasi. From here you will travel to Ephesus, where the Blessed Virgin Mary lived with St. John in a small house on the hill behind the city. Here you will have Mass before traveling down to the ancient city where you can walk the marble roads rutted by wheels of countless chariots and pass the ruins of architectural masterpieces. It is here that St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, and where he was arrested and cast out of the city. In the afternoon you will visit the island of Patmos, where St. John wrote the apocalyptic Book of Revelations. On our excursion we will visit the cave where he lived, now the site of a monastery housing priceless icons and manuscripts.

DAY 11

Santorini

Santorini / Crete

Today on the last day of the cruise group will enjoy on their own visiting Heraklion on the island of Crete and visit to Fira town on the island of Santorini – optional excursion on Crete to Knossos Palace is offered for those interested on more activities on the last cruise day.

DAY 12

Disembark Cruise

Athens / Corinth

Today we disembark our cruise ship, and we will be visiting and exploring the city of Athens (Acts 17: 16-34). Acropolis with Parthenon the greatest monument of antiquity, dedicated to the goddess Athena, from here one can see Areopagus (Areios Pagos = Hill of Ares) visited by Pope John Paul ll same hill where St. Paul gave his famous sermon of “Unknown God”. Our pilgrimage will continue with a drive to Corinth first across the Corinthian Canal, started by roman emperor Nero and then to one of the oldest towns of Greece, where St. Paul came after he left Athens and after a stop at the ancient Corinth (18: 1-18; Cori.) we again meet with St. Paul, here he remained for one and a half-year. We will be visiting a marketplace where the Apostle preached to the Corinthians, the Temple of Apollo and the Corinth Museum.

DAY 13

Depart Home

Return to USA

Today we board our flights home, carrying with us memories and keepsakes that will last a lifetime.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Roundtrip Flights
4-5 Star Hotels
Professional Catholic Tour Guides
All Meals per Itinerary
11 - Nights Accommodation
3- Night Greek Isles Cruise
Excursions as per itinerary
Spiritual Director
Whisper Headsets
Luxury Motorcoach
Daily Mass

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend that all travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect themselves and their trip investment. Travel protection plans can provide coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical expenses and emergency evacuation/repatriation, trip delay, baggage delay, and more. Please go to the link below to learn more Click here for Travel Insurance Details.

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What Our Customers Are Saying

"We will always remember that experience - one of the greatest memories of our lifetime. So glad you were there! We appreciated the good experience of the travel guides. They made us feel comfortable, were very knowledgeable, and we learned a lot. George was incredible to watch and listen to. We appreciated the fact that he started every day with a scripture reading that was based on what we were going to see that day. He made the Holy Land come to life for us and was able to make everything so interesting.”

Artie Davidson

"I just wanted to personally thank you for such a blessed and grace-filled pilgrimage. It was amazing and I was very much impressed. Please extend my thanks to George for being the best tour guide that a pilgrim could have. On behalf of the group, thank you so much for giving us this opportunity to experience the Holy land in a spiritual and Christian way!!! I will keep in touch with you for the next Holy land pilgrimage.”

Alicia Policarpio

"There are so many things to thank you for, but let me say that all of us had a pilgrimage of a life-time; this was my third pilgrimage to the Holy Land and was by far the best."

Deacon Donato Lucero

"I want to thank you for the wonderful tour of the Holy Land and Jordan. It is always a joy and inspiration to lead these tours, and I know that our people enjoy the special accommodations and events."

Fr. Michael J. Shea

"My trip to the Holy Land arranged by Issa Qumsieh was above and beyond my expectations. All was organized down to the last detail. Our arrival in Tel Aviv was welcomed by our guide George and driver Basann, who were waiting at the airport. Throughout our trip, our guide and bus driver were always prompted and ensured our safety. They guaranteed visitation to all historical sites in a timely manner. All hotel accommodations were optimal with meals provided. In the future when traveling overseas I will leave all travel plans to Issa Qumsieh with Holy Land travel. I have great confidence any travels plans will be handled with efficiency and professionalism. I highly recommend Holy Land travel / Issa Qumsieh to my friends, relatives and peers."

Eleanor Miranda

"We’ve just returned from our visit to the Holy Land with Father Vitus and I must say, it was an experience of a lifetime thanks to you and your family. From the moment we arrived at the airport to the moment we landed safely back in Albuquerque your efforts to ensure we all had a wonderful and safe experience was evident. Even though you did not travel with us on this particular tour I felt you were with us every step of the way. Upon our departure from Albuquerque you were at the airport to wish us safe travels and you were there upon our return."

Catherine Penick

"We just came back home and cannot stop talking about the pilgrimage. We have been to the Holy Land before but this is much better. It was very well planned. It is an A+."

Larry Martinez

"Happy New Year! The trip was awesome and a wonderful experienced. You are right; Claudia was an excellent tour guide and Oscar Jordan too. Thanks for giving us these wonderful tour guide. Someday we plan to go back to this tour. It is addictive. We have been almost all over the world but this is emotionally moving."

Fe Buenconsejo

“Indeed, we had a most memorable experience visiting all the holy/cultural sites in France, Spain, and Portugal. In retrospect, this awesome pilgrimage, under the direction of our Spiritual Guide, Fr. Ven, has culminated into a deeper spiritual growth. How privileged we were to have him accompany us!"

Eddie and Phyllis

"Good day. I just want to say thanks for outstanding service we received during Holy Land tour last Oct 19-31 (with Fr. Ven's Group from San Diego, CA). We enjoyed it very much."

Val Cortez

"We are back safe home after 10 days away. I just want to thank you for the beautiful and spiritual trip. That it is a very memorable and experience pilgrimage. Especially we were able to visit your family. I made a picture with your Mom and also your sisters and family. Send my nice regards to them. I missed them. I appreciate that we could go to the milk grotto that was out of the itinerary. Thank you abundantly and I will recommend people to travel with your travel agent to Holy Land. God bless."

Mariani

"The Hotels, destinations, guides, food, busses were beyond my expectations. Everyone was professional, solicitous and friendly. I felt the guides were knowledgeable and eager to take us to places of interest to all the pilgrims."

Monsignor Richard Olona

"We were a small family group who folded into the larger Fr. Martin group from St. Louis. We felt welcomed and accepted into their 'family'. The pace was aggressive, which we needed to be able to see everything. Both guides, Enza in Rome and Nadi in Israel were wonderful about informing the group how far we would be walking to the next site and the terrain. They were awesome at making accommodations for those who needed to adjust the speed. Enza worked hard to get us tickets to the Sistine Chapel on short notice and Nadi dealt with several pilgrims with health issues on the trip. He made us comfortable with the care our family member was receiving at the Israeli hospital. They were both extremely knowledgeable. We felt safe and cared for the entire trip. We would whole heartedly endorse this trip to anyone who asks for a referral. Deacon Dennis and Kim Patrick Guthrie Center, Iowa"

Dennis P

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