In the Steps of St.Paul in Greece and Ephesus
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In the Steps of St.Paul in Greece and Ephesus
Pilgrimage Overview
Join Fr. Manickam & Deacon Thomas Suniga on a Pilgrimage to Greece & Ephesus!
DAY 1
Departure
Today we board our flights to Greece. Dinner and breakfast will be served aloft.
DAY 2
Arrive in Greece
Today we arrive in Thessaloniki. Upon arrival we are welcomed by our Representative. After airport formalities we transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
Kavala
Today we visit Kavala, which occupies the site of ancient Neapolis, the port where St. Paul first arrived in Europe. See the beautiful mosaic at St. Nicholas Church depicting the arrival of St. Paul to Europe and his mission to spread the Gospel. See the Roman aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis. We continue to Philippi (Acts 16:12-40), where St. Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe and baptized Lydia, the first Christian convert on the continent. While here we visit the archaeological site including the Acropolis, Market Place, Theatre, and Forum. We will also see the remains of the prison where St. Paul and St. Silas were held. Mass will be celebrated at church of the Immaculate Conception. After our visit we return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
Thessaloniki / Veria
This morning we visit Thessaloniki, where St. Paul preached and later wrote his letters to the Thessalonians (Acts 17:1-9). Our visit includes the Rotonda of St. George, one of the oldest monuments in the city, the Arch of Galerius, and the beautiful Basilica of St. Demetrius. We will also see the Roman Agora and the Upper Town, which offers wonderful views of the city. We drive through the modern church of St. Paul and reach the Monastery of Vlatadon. Here we celebrate Mass. We continue to Veria (Berea) where St. Paul preached to the Bereans who “received the message with great eagerness.” Here we see the Byzantine mosaic commemorating St. Paul’s preaching. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 5
Veria / Kalambaka
This morning we start by celebrating Mass at the Bema of Saint Paul. We then depart for Kalambaka, a town located at the foot of the famous Meteora rock formations. These spectacular cliffs are crowned by monasteries built by monks beginning in the 11th century. We visit one of the most famous monasteries, the Grand Meteoran Monastery (Transfiguration of Christ), known for its beautiful Byzantine frescoes and breathtaking views. The word Meteora means “suspended in the air,” describing the monasteries built atop the towering rocks. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 6
Kalambaka / Delphi
This morning we travel south to Delphi, once considered the center of the ancient world. Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Delphi was the most important religious sanctuary of ancient Greece. Our visit includes the Temple of Apollo, the Sacred Way, and the Delphi Museum, where we see the famous Gallio Inscription, an important reference for dating the missionary journeys of St. Paul mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. Mass will be celebrated at a local parish. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 7
Delphi / Athens
Today we travel to Athens, one of the most historic cities in the world and the cradle of Western civilization. Upon arrival, we visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite. Here we celebrate Mass. Our tour includes the Acropolis, where we see the Parthenon, Erechtheum, and Propylaea. We also visit Mars Hill (Areopagus) where St. Paul delivered his famous sermon about the “Unknown God” (Acts 17:22-34). We will see the Ancient Agora, Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament, the University of Athens, the National Library, and the Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic Games. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 8
Embark Cruise
We start the morning by celebrating Mass at a local church. Later we depart for the port of Piraeus where we embark our cruise through the Greek Islands. Our first stop is Mykonos, one of the most beautiful islands of the Cyclades. The island is famous for its white-washed houses, windmills, and charming narrow streets. We visit the Church of Panagia Paraportiani and enjoy time to walk through the picturesque harbor area before returning to the ship.
DAY 9
Kusadasi
This morning we arrive at the Turkish port of Kusadasi. From here we travel to the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the best preserved classical cities in the world. We visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where tradition holds she lived with St. John. We then walk through the marble streets of Ephesus and see the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, and the Great Theatre where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians. In the afternoon we sail to Patmos, the island where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. Here we visit the Monastery of St. John and the Grotto of the Apocalypse, where he received the visions recorded in Scripture. Mass will be celebrated in a private hall in the cruise ship.
DAY 10
Crete
Today we visit the island of Crete, where pilgrims may visit Heraklion and the ancient Palace of Knossos, associated with the legend of King Minos. Later we sail to the island of Santorini, known for its dramatic cliffs and white villages overlooking the Aegean Sea. Pilgrims may visit Fira, the capital of the island, and enjoy the spectacular views. Mass will be celebrated in a private hall in the cruise ship.
DAY 11
Disembark Cruise
Today we disembark the cruise ship and travel to Corinth (Acts 18:1-18). Crossing the impressive Corinth Canal, we arrive at one of the oldest cities of Greece where St. Paul lived and preached for more than a year. Here we will have an open-air Mass at the same site where St Paul preached. We visit the Ancient Marketplace, the Temple of Apollo, and the site where St. Paul stood trial before Gallio. We also visit the Corinth Museum before returning to Athens. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 12
Return Home
Today we transfer to the airport for our return flights home. We depart with many memories and blessings from our pilgrimage through the lands of St. Paul.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Roundtrip Airfare from Austin (AUS)
- Excursions per itinerary
- Overnight accommodations
- Meals per Itinerary
- Greek Isles Cruise
- English-speaking local tour guides
- Air-Conditioned Motor-coach
- Spiritual director
- Pilgrims Backpack
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Passport and Visas (Refer to the section below for Passports or Visas help)
- Gratuities
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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