Join us as we head to Greece to follow in the footsteps of St Paul and more!!
Depart: November 4th 2024 - 10 Nights
Tour Leader: Reverend Paul Zaphiriou
Friday November 4th: Depart Heathrow Airport on Aegean Airlines for our flight to Thessaloniki (via Athens) where we will be welcomed by our professional guide. Transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Saturday November 5th: Your tour begins! The first stop is in Philippi, an ancient city in eastern Macedonia that was established by Philipp II, father of Alexander the Great. When the Apostle Paul first reached there, many women gathered around him and were the first in Europe to hear him preaching. Among them was Lydia, a noble woman who was the first to be baptised and was instrumental in spreading the Word of God. Here you will be guided through the theatre, the Roman forum (which was the city's administrative centre in the Roman period) and the Basilicas. Your next stop is Kavala, the biblical Neapolis, where in the winter of the year 49, the Apostle Paul landed on European land for the first time. On your return to Thessaloniki, we make a stop at Amphipolis, to take a look at the Lion’s monument. Finally return to hotel for accommodation and dinner.
Sunday November 6th: Today you will visit Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. Thessaloniki is considered an open-air museum of Byzantine art. Among others you have the chance to discover tourist sites like the ancient forum (the ancient administrative centre), the triumph arch of Galerius and the neighbouring Rotunda of St George, and the White Tower, the trademark and most recognisable point of the city. Finally, you will visit some marvellous Byzantine churches like Agios Dimitrios and Agios Nikolaos Orfanos.
Monday November 7th: In the morning we will drive to Veria (Berea), another town evangelised by Paul. When Saint Paul visited this town in AD30, he came across a more ‘noble’ Jewish community where he preached and created an important Church. We will visit the ancient synagogue where we will see the Byzantine mosaic in the monument commemorating his preaching. Continue drive for Vergina, for a visit to the Palace; the Grave of King Philipp; the Tomb of Persephone; and the Macedonian tomb of the free columns. Finally, we will arrive in Kalambaka for accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
Tuesday November 8th: Today we will visit the breath-taking landscape of Meteora, an astonishing geological phenomenon; these immense, solid rocks, split by earthquakes, weathered by water and wind over millions of years are nature's authentic masterpiece. You will have the chance to visit 2 monasteries here. Afterwards we drive south to reach Delphi for accommodation and dinner at the hotel.
Wednesday November 9th: In Ancient Greece, people used to travel to Delphi to seek the wisdom of the famous Oracle. The Sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most spectacular landscape, was for many centuries the cultural and religious centre and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. Dinner and overnight in Delphi.
Thursday November 10th: In the morning drive to the famous monastery of ‘Osios Loukas’, the largest surviving monastery from the Middle Byzantine period in Greece. It was founded in the early 10th century by the hermit. The Katholikon has some of the best-preserved Byzantine mosaics. We will continue the trip to the Peloponnes for dinner and overnight in Vrachati, near Corinth.
Friday November 11th: In the morning, we'll visit Ancient Corinth, where the Apostle Paul lived and worked, establishing a thriving church and subsequently sending two of his epistles, now part of the New Testament. Here, we see all of the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odean, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. The small local archaeological museum is an absolute must! Continue to Athens with a quick photo stop at the historic Corinth Canal. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
Saturday November 12th: Following breakfast this morning we tour Athens, the foundation of democracy. We visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum before viewing Athens atop Mars Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation. From there, we view the Agora below, the ancient marketplace and centre of Athenian public life. Additional sites viewed during our panoramic bus tour are, the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential Palace. An option later this afternoon is a visit to the famous Plaka with a multitude of shops and cafes. A visit at the Acropolis Museum follows afterwards. This brand-new museum has been founded to exhibit all the significant finds from the Sacred Rock and its foothills.
Sunday November 13th: Enjoy a free day in Athens and explore hidden neighbourhoods with beautiful buildings, small cafes and taverns. Tip... Every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. the changing of the guard takes place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square. It's well worth making a point of seeing this unique ceremony, which attracts hundreds of visitors each time.
Monday November 14th: Transfer to Athens airport for our flight back to Heathrow full of memories from this amazing trip!
