Embark on your journey with an overnight flight to Athens. Prepare for a life-changing experience and take the opportunity to rest during the flight. Tomorrow, you will follow in the footsteps of the apostle Paul, immersing yourself in the ancient world where his ministry profoundly influenced early Christianity.

We arrive in Athens mid-afternoon and meet our representative who will provide us with tickets for our flight to Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki is where Paul was received by Jason and preached until he was rushed out the city (Acts 17:1-9). We transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

In the morning, we explore the city’s landmarks: the White Tower, the Walls of the Byzantine Acropolis, the Roman Arch of Galerius, and the Rotonda. We visit two of the city’s oldest Christian churches, the Basilicas of St. Demetrius and St. Sophia. Following the Via Egnatia, we visit the area of Amphipolis, where we see the famous funerary Lion of Amphipolis, just as Paul and his companions did. We continue to Philippi, visiting the Baptistery of Lydia near the river where Paul baptized her (Acts 16:11-15). Lydia was Paul’s first European convert, followed by the jailer. We also explore the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, the “Prison of Paul,” and the Theater. Later, we drive to Kavala (Neapolis), Paul’s first stop in Europe, where we see the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct. We return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

Today, we embark on a journey to the mystical region of Meteora, renowned for its Byzantine monasteries perched atop towering rock formations. Dating back to the 14th century, these monasteries offer a glimpse into a history of spiritual refuge and survival against the backdrop of stunning natural landscapes. Following our exploration, we continue our return journey to Athens, where we enjoy dinner and prepare for the next phase of our adventure.

Today, we sail from Athens to the charming island of Mykonos, known for its windmills. Upon arrival, we disembark to explore the waterfront lined with shops and cafes. We wander through the charming whitewashed buildings before returning to the ship for dinner and evening activities. Today is free for personal exploration on the island.
(Mykonos excursion not included)

This morning, we arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey. An included excursion takes us to Ephesus, where Paul spent three years during his ministry. Ephesus boasts impressive remains such as the Agora, the Theater, the Stadium, the Library of Celsus, and the ruins of the Temple of Diana, one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” Later, we sail to Patmos where we visit the Monastery of St. John and the Grotto of the Apocalypse, where St. John wrote the Revelations.

In the morning, we arrive in Heraklion, Crete, home to Knossos Palace on the outskirts of the city. This site, dating back to the ancient Minoan civilization of 4000 B.C., is steeped in Greek mythology as the location of the Minotaur’s Labyrinth. Crete is later mentioned in Titus 1:5, where Paul instructed Titus to appoint elders in every town to strengthen the Christian faith. We’ll enjoy leisure time exploring the town before reembarking in the afternoon. Later, we cruise to Santorini, renowned for its stunning villages perched on volcanic cliffs. Personal exploration is recommended.
(Crete & Santorini excursions not included)

Concluding our cruise, we disembark in Piraeus and journey to Ancient Corinth, where Paul engaged in his missionary work for eighteen months, making significant contributions to early Christian communities (Acts 18:1-18). Our exploration includes visits to the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples, and the renowned Bema, where Paul stood trial before Gallio. Continuing to Cenchreae, where Paul departed for Asia, we return to Athens for a comprehensive sightseeing tour encompassing the Acropolis, Mars Hill, the Agora, and other historical landmarks. Enjoy an afternoon of personal exploration before our farewell dinner and overnight stay in Athens.

Today, we embark on a journey to Delphi, revered in ancient times as the “omphalos” or navel of the earth, renowned for the Temple of Apollo and the influential Delphic oracle. Delphi also hosted the Pythian Games, drawing athletes from across Greece in a tradition that preceded the modern Olympics. En route, enjoy scenic vistas of mountain villages, immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Greece. Conclude the day with dinner and overnight in Athens.

In the morning, we transfer to Athens Airport for our return flight to the U.S.A.

Those taking the extension will transfer to the airport for our flight to Istanbul. We begin our “Istanbul City tour” with the Blue Mosque, the most splendid mosque in the city, which is distinguished by six slender minarets and the interior decorated with blue Iznik tile. Then we continue with a walk through the Hippodrome, the center of Byzantine civic life, housing three ancient monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Visit St. Sophia (Divine Wisdom), one of the greatest churches in the world, built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. After the conquest of the city in 1453, it was transformed into a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror and into a museum by Ataturk in 1934. In the afternoon, visit the famous Topkapi Palace, where the rich collection of Ottoman Treasures can be seen. This palace, with a base area of 700,000 sq. meters, is spread over the promontory called the Seraglio Point. We will view the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. This legendary maze of buildings was the residence of the Ottoman sultans and the administrative heart of the Empire. Nowadays, it is one of the world’s greatest museums. Dinner and overnight will be in Istanbul.

We leave Istanbul and are transferred to Istanbul Airport for our short flight to Izmir. We arrive in Izmir and begin our sightseeing as we tour ancient Pergamum (Bergsma), center of rule for the Roman Empire. Sights include the Asklepion, an ancient healing center, the Acropolis with its pagan temples and Altar of Zeus (some call the throne of Satan), and the Temple of Trajan. After stopping for lunch (not included), we will continue to Thyatira, smallest of the Seven Churches of which John writes in Revelations. Dinner and overnight are in Izmir.

An early morning start takes us to Philadelphia (Alasehir), the church that “kept the faith” and Sardis, capital of the Lydian Kingdom. It was also the first city to use coins of gold and silver. Our visit in Sardis will take us to the amazing ruins of the Temple of Artemis, the picturesque gymnasium, and the synagogue with intact mosaic tile artwork. We will return to Izmir for dinner and over-night.

Today we will travel to ancient Laodicea, a city known for its riches, development of medicines, and where the church was known for being “lukewarm in belief.” Take a short drive to Hierapolis visiting the vast, ancient necropolis (burial grounds), large amphitheater, St. Philip’s Church, and framed Roman baths. The white travertine falls and hot springs of Pamukkale are a beautiful secret of nature that we will enjoy today. We will have time for a short devotion in the Laodicea amphitheater. We will return for dinner and overnight in Izmir.

This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight home.