FOOTSTEPS OF SAINT PAUL and BIBLICAL LANDS IN TURKEY AND GREECE
MAY 14 through MAY 26, 2012
DAY 1
DAY 2
Departure from the United States.
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel.
Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church.
DAY 3
Dinner at a local seafood restaurant and overnight in Istanbul.
Breakfast at hotel.
Istanbul is located on both the continents of Europe and Asia and here
East meets West. We will start our day with the gem of Istanbul, St. Hagia
Sophia, the largest church in Christendom for 100 years. Then to Topkapi
Palace and the Blue Mosque, followed by St. Savior in Chora which is one of the most beautiful Byzantine-era churches, boasting magnificent mosaics that recount stories in the life of the Virgin Mary, the infancy of Jesus, the ministry of
Christ, and other stand-alone masterpieces. Our last stop is at the Spice
Market and Grand Bazaar.
Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 4 Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to the airport for our flight to Izmir.
Upon arrival in Izmir we visit the oldest church in Izmir, Church of St.
Polycarp, it represents ancient Smyrna’s roles as one of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Then to St.
John’s Basilica and view of the Ephesus harbor and the temple of Artemis, completed around 550 BC and listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Dinner and overnight is Kusadasi.
DAY 5 Breakfast at hotel.
Travel to Ephesus, the city of the Bible, and visit the main archaeological site with restorations still in progress. Miles of ancient treasurers including the newly opened sloping Roman villas, library, museum of Ephesus, the temple of Artemis, and the Great Amphitheater where St. Paul probably preached.
Mass at the House of Mary, where it is believed to be where the Virgin
Mary spent the last years of her life along with St. John the Theologion.
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 6 Breakfast at hotel.
This morning we embark on our cruise to Greece. Lunch on ship.
The first port of cal
Christians. Here St. John l is the Island of Patmos, the “Sacred Island” for received his apocalyptic vision of Revelation written during his exile. Here we visit the the Apocalypse. monastery of St. John and the Cave of
Dinner and overnight on ship.

DAY 7 Breakfast on ship. Followed by Mass.
Today’s port of call is Santorini, perhaps the most breathtaking of all
Greek Islands, a volcanic eruption in 100 BC destroyed the center of the island leaving a crescent shaped rim of cliffs where the town of Thira is today. Tour of the island on foot or sailing around the active volcano crater. Lunch on ship or optional lunch in town.
Dinner and overnight on ship.
DAY 8 Breakfast on ship.
Disembark from our cruise in Pireaus, Greece.
Travel to Corinth and Mycenae with a stop for photos at the Corinth Canal.
Corinth is the city that inspired many of St. Paul’s most familiar letters. We will visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul lived including the remains of firstcentury shops, the Agora, the magnificent Temple of Apollo, and the
Judgment Seat where St. Paul was put on trial. In Mycenae there are remains of the ancient city dating back to the Bronze Age. We will see the Lioness Gate and Tomb of Agamennon.
Celebration of Mass in Ancient Corinth.
Dinner at a roof top restaurant overlooking the Acropolis and Syntagma
Square.
Overnight in Athens.
DAY 9 Breakfast at hotel.
Today we visit Athens and the Acropolis, Agora, Areopagus and the newly opened Acropolis Museum.
Dinner in old Athens, the Plaka beneath the Acropolis and overnight in
Athens.
DAY 10 Breakfast at hotel.
We travel to Delphi which is the center of the Ancient world and view the slope of Mount Parnassus and the ruins of Apollo Pythios. After lunch we continue our travel to Meteora and visit two of the Meteora Monasteries perched on huge rocks and seems to be suspended in
Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. mid-air.
DAY 11 Breakfast at hotel.
Travel through Veria (biblical Beroea) an d visit King Phillip’s (Alexander’s father) tomb in Bergina, one of the most outstanding finds in all of
Greece.View the ancient synagogue where Saint Paul spoke and the mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the “more noble” church. Continue travel to Thessaloniki and visit the Altar of St. Paul, St. George
Church, Galerius Arch and the Church Agia Sophia.
Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 12 Breakfast at hotel.

Today we visit Kavala (biblical Neapolis) where Saint Paul, Timothy, and
Silas first landed on European soil. It is here where Saint Paul preached and delivered his first sermon in Europe, sowing the seeds of Christianity.
We will see where Saint Paul and Silas was imprisoned and the Baptistery of
Lydia who was the first European convert to be baptized and surrendered her life to Christ.
Celebration of Mass in Philippi.
Thessaloniki.
Farewell dinner and blessings of all religious items. Overnight in
DAY 13 Breakfast at hotel.
Depart Greece in the morning and return home later that same day.