“In the Footsteps of Apostle Paul”

Welcome to Greece! Arrive in Thessalonica, the second largest city of Greece. Enjoy the day at your own leisure. Take a walk by the seaside promenade and explore the beautiful city center. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we start our day tour. First stop in Vergina, the ancient city of Aigai and the old capital of the Macedonian kingdom (5th to 2nd century BC). Here we visit one of the most important tombs ever discovered—Philip II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. The tomb was discovered by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos and was intact. Continue to Berea (Acts 17:10–15) where Paul arrived and according to his custom went to the synagogue where, to his pleasant surprise, he discovered that these Jews were “more noble” than those he had encountered in Thessalonica. We see the Byzantine mosaic in the monument commemorating his preaching. Return to Thessaloniki hotel for dinner & overnight.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. On our way to Philippi, we will drive by Apollonia and then stop at the Lion statue of Amphipolis. Amphipolis was a district capital of Macedonia, on the Via Egnatia, the route used by Paul, Timothy, and Silas (Acts 17:1).

We continue to Philippi, the site where Paul established a strong church and sent his letter (Acts 16:9–33). We see the river where Lydia is said to have been baptized, the ruins of a prison where the Apostle Paul and Sylas had been kept, the Agora, 5th and 6th century Basilica and the Theater.

After the visit, we continue to Kavala, the ancient port of Neapolis (Acts 16:11) where Paul arrived from Troas in Asia Minor and set foot in Europe for the first time. We check in at hotel in Kavala for dinner & overnight.

After early breakfast at hotel, drive eastbound to Greece-Turkey border for crossing. Our staff will be there for the border crossing formalities. Crossing the border and welcomed by your Turkish guide. Then drive to Alexandria Troas, founded about 300 B.C. by one of the generals of Alexandria the Great. During the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, it was from Troas that he received the “Macedonian call” to Europe. This is where Luke’s account changes from “they” to “we” (Acts 16:6–12), indicating that he joined Paul’s team at Troas. Returning from Macedonia during his third journey, Paul was in Troas for a week, when the young man Eutychus fell from the third loft as Paul preached. Paul soon walked some thirty miles to Assos. Visit Assos, where we will follow the apostle’s footsteps to the old city walls (Acts 20:5–14). You will walk the old marketplace of Assos and see the council chamber and Temple to Athena. Check in at the hotel for overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Pergamum, actually called Bergama. It is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev. 1:11; 2:12). Here we explore the impressive Acropolis, the steepest theatre in the world, the Asklepion, famous medical center of classical times, see the Altar of Zeus which is mentioned as the «Throne of Satan» in the book of Revelation, the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan and the Library which was foremost in the world and was long a rival of the equally famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Its wealth of volumes was estimated at over 200,000. It inspired the invention of parchment. Drive to Izmir check in at the hotel for overnight in Izmir.

After breakfast, visit Ancient Agora in Izmir. Continue to Ephesus to visit. Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7), the major port city on the Aegean, was the commercial, political, and religious center of all of Asia Minor. After a lunatic completely burned the Temple of Diana (Artemis) on the night, that Alexander the Great was born in 356 B.C. The Ephesians worked for 120 years to complete a magnificent reconstructed temple, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The city became part of the Roman Empire in the second century B.C. As a Roman capital of Asia Minor, Ephesus boasted a population approaching 250,000 people. The Apostle Paul’s first visit to Ephesus was brief—during his second missionary tour (Acts 18:19–21). His second visit lasted about three years—during his third missionary tour (Acts 19:1 to 20:31). Luke’s account of the worship of Diana appears in Acts 19:34–35. The Great Theatre (stadium) mentioned in Acts 19:29-31 could seat 25,000 people. Walk the marble-paved street with grooves made by chariot wheels. See the Fountain of Trojan, the Library of Celsus. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, drive to Miletus, home of ancient philosopher Thales (640-546 B.C.), one of the fathers of Greek geometry, astronomy, and philosophy. It was here, in the first Christian century, that the Apostle Paul, on his third missionary journey, called for the Ephesians elders and preached a powerful message to them (Acts 20:15-38). It was also here that Paul left his friend Trophimus, who was too ill to continue (II Timothy 4:20). As a port at the mouth of the Meander River, Miletus was a natural outlet for Phrygian trade. Like the one at Ephesus, however, Miletus’s sea harbour eventually filled with silt, and commerce dwindled. The city’s remote quietness makes it special to devout students of Scripture. Its ancient ruins include the marvelous 15,000-seat theatre. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

At 06.30 a.m. pick up from hotel and private transfer to Kusadasi port for ferry to Patmos. Sail at around 7am. Arrival in Patmos around 10:30 am, meet & greet by your local guide. This is a beautiful, peaceful and almost mysterious rocky island of the Dodecanese where the Apostle John was exiled and wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9). We will drive up to visit the Monastery of John the Evangelist. From there, there is a wonderful view of the island. We also visit the Grotto of the Revelation before some free time for walking. After tour, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Afternoon transfer to Skala town for dinner at local restaurant. Return to your hotel for overnight.

Breakfast at hotel and start island tour. Drive to Skala town to see the windmills of Chora, once upon a time the landmark of all Aegean islands. Enjoy the view and take photos. From there we continue to the south part of the island and observe the highest point of the island and the small village of Grikos. You continue your drive around the island to see its landscape of outstanding natural beauty comprised mostly of rocky hills, dozens of tongues of land reaching out into the sea, tranquil beaches and many picturesque inlets.

Upon arrival in Kampos, located in the north part of the island, you will be making a stop to enjoy the beach and the small village. Return to hotel. In the evening, you will be transferred to Skala town for dinner. Free time after dinner before you embark the ferry to Piraeus.

At 12:15 am the overnight ferry will sail from Patmos to Piraeus. Upon arrival at 8:25a.m. in Piraeus port, meet & greet by your local escort, board the bus and start your tour with visit to the Acropolis & Mars hill. We climb up to the marble-capped Acropolis Hill and visit the famous Parthenon and Erechtheion Temples. Then walk to nearby Mars' Hill (Areopagus) (Acts 7:22) where Paul delivered his soul-stirring sermon to the giants of philosophy, logic and learning and spoke about the inscription: “to an unknown god”. From here, we have a panoramic view of the ancient Agora of Athens. We continue our tour with a panoramic sightseeing of the city highlights. Paul’s brief visit to Athens was about four centuries past Athens’ Golden Age. Philosophers still came to the stoas (covered porches) to hear novel ideas, prompting him to change his style of missions. Athens remains a window to the Golden Age city of Pericles. Dinner & overnight at your hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Today we depart for our full day tour out of Athens to Corinth. Driving along the Saronic Gulf, we enjoy a quick photo stop at the historic Corinth Canal. Located at an isthmus of land that connects the Peloponnesian Peninsula and Corinth to the mainland of Greece, Paul labored here eighteen months with Priscilla and Aquila on his second journey (Acts 18:1-18). Paul lived and established a thriving church, 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 Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. Paul changed his basic concept of missions here. He could reach more people by staying (500,000 regularly) than if he moved. The modern Canal (75 ft. wide) links Corinth to the Aegean and Ionian Sea (Corinthian Gulf). The small local archaeological museum is an absolute must! Lunch on your own. Then we visit Cenchrea, this port city across the narrow isthmus from Corinth was the embarkation port for Paul when he sailed after 18 months in Corinth. Phoebe was a deaconess (Rom. 16:1). To avoid delay and danger of sailing around the Peloponnese, ancient wooden ships (called triremes) were unloaded at Corinth, and then dragged overland to be reloaded at Cenchrea, or vice versa. Return to Athens in the afternoon. Evening will be free to explore the historical and modern center of the city. Dinner & overnight at hotel.

As you reflect on these past few days, full of history and spiritual inspiration, you will be transferred to Athens International Airport for your flight home.