12 Days
Specific Tour
30 people
English
Oct 15–DEPARTURE TO GREECE
Depart for your overnight flight to Greece, meals served on board.
Oct 16– ARIVAL THESSALONIKI
Arrive Thessaloniki where you will be met outside baggage claim and escorted to your vehicle for a transfer to the hotel. Later this afternoon, meet your guide for a short Orientation Tour. Enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow travelers this evening. Overnight at hotel Capsis (or similar).
Oct 17-THESSALONIKI
Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city with population of some 1 million and a vital cultural, industrial and commercial city, lies amphitheatrically on the Thermaicos Gulf, on the slopes of Mount Chortiatis. Founded by the Greek Macedonian King Kassander, he named the city Thessaloniki after his wife who was also the half-sister of Alexander the Great. During the Roman period, it was the capital of Macedonia Secunda and during the Middle Ages, it was the second city of the Byzantine Empire. For 400 years it was occupied by the Ottoman Empire, until it was finally freed in 1912. Paul visited and preached the Gospel in Thessaloniki on his second (Acts 17:1-9) and likely on his third missionary journeys and sent two letters to the early Christians there.
We start our excursion of the city viewing the White Tower, an historical landmark before continuing on to visit the Archaeological Museum which houses interesting finds from the Archaic, Classical and Roman periods, with findings of the Sindos area and a stunning exhibition of golden jewels. Stop for a typical Greek lunch. From here, drive by the International Trade Fair grounds and the Aristotelion University, which was established in 1926 and today is the largest of all universities in Greece. Next, make your way up to the once upon a time, Acropolis, located in the upper part of the city. It is here, where you will have a superb panoramic view of the entire city with the Thermaic Gulf and Mount Olympus in the background.
Further visit of St. Demetrios Basilica which was erected in the 5th century AD. The five aisled basilica suffered a tragic fire in the year 1917 but was later restored in 1948. Marvel at the beautiful mosaics, dating back from the 5th to 9th Centuries. From here, follow your guide to the area located under the basilica, where you will see the famous crypt, which according to tradition, was once the confinement for an officer by the name of Demetrius who was later executed by the emperor Gallerius. Today, St. Demetrius is the patron Saint of the city.
Return to your motor coach and drive along the modern street, Egnatia, named after the famous Roman road, Via Egnatia. While driving, view the Arch of Gallerius and St. George’s Rotonda. The tour will end passing by the well-preserved Byzantine Basilica of St. Sophia, an 8th Century structure, rich in mosaics and frescoes. Overnight hotel Capsis or similar.
Oct 18 –THESSALONIKI–KAVALA–PHILIPPI–THESSALONIKI
Kavala, the ancient site of Neapolis, founded in the 7th Century BC, is the very same place where St. Paul set foot on the European Continent during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11), establishing a thriving Christian church in the nearby city of Philippi. The famous Egnatian road, which once ran from the Adriatic Sea to Constantinople, passed by this city.
On the way to Philippi you will have the opportunity to view the St. Sylas Monastery named after one of St. Paul’s companions. Arrive at the famous city of Philippi, one of the most interesting biblical and historical ancient cities. The city once known as Krinides, was renamed “Philippi” after King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. It is this place where Brutus and Cassius were defeated by Mark Antony and Junavian Augustus, granting the City of Philippi a great many privileges. From here, drive a short distance to the Baptistery and the River, where Lydia, the first European convert was baptized by St. Paul (Acts 16:12-18).
Return to the archaeological site for a guided tour through the excavations, marveling at the upper and lower parts as well as the Forum, the Walls, the two Basilicas and the Theatre. Your guide will also point out the traditional site of the prison, which once held St. Paul and St. Silas (Acts 16:16-40). After lunch in Philippi Site, we will do a short orientation tour of Kavala (Ancient Neapolis) and then drive back to Thessaloniki. Overnight hotel Capsis or similar.
Oct 19 –THESSALONIKI
Today you will visit the Archaeological Musuem of Thessaloniki where among other thigs, there are two inscriptions that include the word “Politarchs: (Book of Acts 17,6) After that visit, you will get a boat ride in Thermaicos gulf where you will admire the beaty of the city of Thessaloniki from the water. After some free time, you will go to the mountain of Thessaloniki (Chortiatis) for some hiking.
Overnight hotel Capsis or similar.
Oct 20 –THESSALONIKI–VERIA–VERGINA-KALAMBAKA
Today you follow the path of Paul when he fled Thessaloniki for the safety of Veria (Berea), where Jews and some honorable Greeks accepted the new faith (Acts 17:10-12). Here we view the synagogue where Paul preached. We stop at the Bema surrounded by mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the “more noble” church.
Continue to visit the Royal Tombs of Vergina (Land of Alexander the Great). The tour includes a visit of the newly completed exhibition displaying discoveries from all 3 Tombs, one of them famous as the Tomb of King Philip the II, Father of Alexander the Great. Make your way inside the subterranean structure, accompanied by your guide and feast your eyes on some of the most important objects, which once belonged to Philip II – the King’s shield adorned with ivory and gold the King’s gold- trimmed iron breast plate, Gold Diadems of unparalleled craftsmanship, the Golden Wreath of oak leaves, the gold-plated collar and the Silver Burial Ums. Listen carefully, as your guide explains how inside the tomb of King Philip, a Golden Chest was discovered, containing the King’s bones, washed with wine and wrapped in purple cloth. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Kalambaka (hotel Amalia or similar).
Oct 21 –METEORA–PREVEZA
This morning we visit monasteries of Meteora. One of the most remarkable sites in Greece: a group of monasteries perched atop pinnacles of rock up to 600 meters high. A rare geological phenomenon, a quirk of nature as it were, created these looming rocks which trust skywards from the plain of Thessaly, as if striving to come closer to God. These peculiarly impressive natural sculptures are known as Meteora because they do indeed seem to hang or hover (meteoro in Greek) above the plain. Their summits, totally isolated from the rest of the world, were a refuge for many hermits from as early as the 11th century. Three hundred years later the first monasteries were founded. Access to the monasteries and settlements was made by ladder and rope.
Once we arrive to the monasteries you will admire the brickwork of the Byzantine workmanship. The Churches house the spectacular frescoes, ivory carving, manuscripts and the fine work of art previously supported by the Emperors at the time. Included in the tour is the visit inside the Monastery of Agios Stefanos (Nuns). *You are kindly requested to observe the strict clothing restrictions of the monasteries i.e.long trousers for men otherwise entrance will be denied.* After your visit of the Meteora Monasteries, you drive to Preveza for dinner and overnight at the hotel Margarona or similar.
Oct 22-NIKOPOLIS-DELPHI
This morning, you visit Nikopolis. Thirty years after the crucifixion of Jesus from Nazareth, Christianity spread silently in Greece. Paul, in the year 64 AD writes to his friend Tito about his impending visit to Nicopolis. The letter was saved. The exact text in Greek reads: “When I send Artemans to you or Tychikon, learn to come to me in Nikopolis; for there you will winter.” Translation: “When I send you Artemas or Tychicus, come quickly to find me in Nicopolis. I will spend the winter there.” . It is widely accepted that this is Nicopolis of Epirus. [Historical evidence for this visit of the Apostle Paul has not survived. At the 2nd International Symposium on Nicopolis which took place September 11-14, 2002, Metropolitan Meletios of Nicopolis and Preveza held a lecture on “The visit and stay of Paul in Nicopolis”, which suggests that the official church considers it as “accomplished” this visit. The generally reliable Petros Fourikis writes characteristically: “From this passage in the letter to Titon we can guess that Paul had decided to go to Nicopolis and spend the winter there. However, if he moved to Odi and overwintered, as was the case, we have no idea. Therefore, the information about the religious situation of Nikopolis before Paul’s arrival there and about his teaching there, as well as the information about the establishment of the first church there, cannot be considered as valid”. It is also noteworthy that in the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea held in the year 325 AD. there is no clearly mentioned representative of the Nicopolis church, while it was an important city, it is simply mentioned by Eusebius “…but also Thrace and Macedonians, Achaeans and Epirus…”.But after 22 years, in the year 347 AD. in the Synod in Sardis, Bishop Heliodoros from Nicopolis participated. For the time period of the possible visit of the We don’t have much information about Paul in Nikopolis. The sequence of events of the visit of the Paul in Nicopolis must be the one below after his first imprisonment in Rome. Caesar Nero declared the Apostle innocent and set him free in the spring of AD 64. Immediately the Apostle Paul began the D tour starting from Spain. He then went to Crete, in the year 64 AD. (Summer) and 65 AD (Winter). After Crete he went to Ephesus (AD 65) and from the region of Asia he sent the first letter to Timothy where he tells him “going to Macedonia, please be present in Ephesus” (1 Tim. 1:3). Going to Macedonia, he first passed through Miletus where he left Trophimus “sick” (2 Timothy 4:20) and then through Corinth where Erastus stayed (2 Timothy 4:20). Then he made his way to Macedonia, probably in the summer of 65 AD. That’s when he also writes to Titus that he intends to spend the winter in Nicopolis in the winter of 65-66 AD. After your visit of Nikopolis, you drive to Delphi for dinner and overnight at the hotel Amalia or similar.
Oct 23- DELPHI–OSSIOS LOUKAS-ATHENS
Delphi is the famous oracle where the priestess of Apollo, Pitia, influenced, with their prophecies the history of cities and states of antiquity. Visit the archaeological site and museum. The museum houses an impressive collection associated with ancient Delphi, including the earliest known notation of a melody, the famous Charioteer, golden treasures discovered beneath the Sacred Way, and fragments of reliefs from the Siphnian Treasury. Close to the exit is the inscription that mentions the Roman proconsul Gallio. The reference to proconsul Gallio in the inscription provides an important marker for developing a chronology of the life of Apostle Paul by relating it to the trial of Paul in Achaea mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (18:12-17). Delphi, this mountainous city which today is both an archaeological site and a modern town. For the ancient Greeks, Delphi was labeled the “omphalos” (navel) of the earth, and it is here that the eternal flame burned in the Temple of Apollo. Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world. It was also here beginning in 586 B.C. that athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, one of the precursors to the modern Olympics. After our visit, we continue through the Monastery of Ossios Loukas which we visit to Athens. Dinner and overnight are in Athens at the hotel Titania or similar.
Oct 24– ATHENS
Today you explore the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide introduces you to the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. Stand on Mars Hill as the Apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, “I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23). As you view the agora from the top of Acropolis , the ancient marketplace and center of Athenian public life, recall that this was where the Apostle Paul preached “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. Also, see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You visit also the Acropolis Museum. After that visit, you go for hiking to the Lycabettus Hill which is the higher hill in Athens downtown and you can have a 360 view of the city of Athens. Dinner and overnight at your hotel Titania or similar.
Oct 25-ATHENS-CORINTH-ATHENS
After early morning disembarkation, we will travel to Corinth. Journey outside Athens to walk among the ancients in Corinth, a once rich and powerful city known for luxury and vice, and see the incredible Corinth Canal, cut through miles of solid rock. Follow the sacred way which led to Eleusis, known in antiquity for its sanctuary of Demeter, whose legendary search for her daughter Persephone explained to the ancients the cause of the seasons. A modern highway takes you past olive fields and numerous small villages, including Megara, whose inhabitants colonized Asia Minor under the leadership of Byzas and founded the city of Byzantium – which later gave its name to the Byzantine Empire. Driving along the coast leads to the majestic Corinth Canal, an engineering triumph century in the making. Nero, Rome’s most infamous emperor, inaugurated one attempt in 67 AD with his golden spade, but it was the Greeks who finally conquered the steep rock in 1893. Prior to the canal, ships were dragged from the Ionian Sea to the Aegean Sea using a wooden road with special grooves greased with wax. Traces of the road can still be seen. Continue to Ancient Corinth, a city blessed with a superb location, fertile plains, and a virtually impregnable refuge It is likely that Paul visited Corinth at least twice on his missionary journeys. Excavations reveal that the ancient city was huge and wealthy; a survivor of numerous invasions but devastated by earthquakes. See the Bema, where St. Paul was tried by the Roman Governor (Acts 18:1-17) , and one of Corinth’s most striking ancient buildings – the Temple of Apollo, seven of who’s original 38 columns still stand. Walk through the remains of the Marketplace, a colonnaded square once surrounded by many small shops. See the celebrated Fountain of Priene, which has produced water from earliest times and Lechaion Road, formerly the main thoroughfare to the port of Lecaion. Our tour of today includes a visit to the Acrocorinth with some hiking. Overnight hotel Titania or similar.
Oct 26– DEPARTURE ATHENS AIRPORT
Today you will be taken to the airport of Athens for your flight back home.
