Embark upon your journey with an overnight flight to Thessaloniki, Greece. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience and get some rest on the flight. Tomorrow you will be walking where the apostle Paul walked!

We arrive in Thessaloniki, a city of extreme faith in the midst of persecution. Paul was preaching the Word of God here until he was rushed out of the city. We transfer to our hotel for check-in and dinner.

In the morning we start with the landmarks of the city: 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 and most admired Christian churches, the Basilicas of St. Demetrius and St. Sophia. We then follow the route of the Via Egnatia and visit, like Paul and his companions, the area of Amphipolis where we will see the famous funerary Lion of Amphipolis. Then we travel onto Philippi. There, we visit the Baptistery of Lydia near the river, where Paul baptized her. Lydia was the first convert of Paul on European soil, followed by the jailer. Also, we visit the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, the “Prison of Paul” and the Theater. Then we drive to Kavala (Neapolis), where Paul first arrived in Greece to bring the Gospel to present day Europe. A picturesque port, we view the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct. We return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

This morning we see the world-famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched on summits of stunning rock peaks. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliff-side caves, then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters and monasteries. Afterwards, we continue to Delphi for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we have a special visit to 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. In 586 B.C., athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, second in size only to the Olympics. Afterwards, we continue to Athens, where we’ll enjoy some free time in the Plaka (open-air market). Here we’ll have the opportunity to shop for jewelry, clothes, souvenirs, or even grab a quick snack before dinner! Afterwards, we’ll meet at a designated time and location before transferring to our hotel in Athens for dinner and overnight.

We travel early this morning to the port of Piraeus for an early afternoon departure on our 3-night Greek Isles Cruise.

Excursion Not Included: Our first port-of-call is Mykonos, which uniquely combines luxury and sophistication with the simple and yet charming life of a Cycladic Island. The entire time is free for you to stroll the winding, narrow streets full of boutiques, visit tiny chapels, take pictures of the famous windmills, and enjoy Greek cuisine (not included). Another option is just to sit by the waterfront and enjoy the beautiful sunset. After we re-embark this evening, we’ll enjoy dinner and our first overnight aboard our “floating hotel.”

In the morning, we arrive at Kusadasi, a lovely Turkish port and the gateway to the Ancient city of Ephesus, a city often visited by St. Paul. It is one of the seven churches of Revelation.

Excursion Included: We drive along the coast to reach Ephesus, famous in antiquity for the Temple of Diana, known as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” Ephesus was a home of the Paul, the Apostle John, and very likely Jesus’ mother, Mary. We will see the monuments such as the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, and the Thermal Bath of Scholastica. We will also visit the magnificent, open-air Great Theatre seating 24,000 people. Traveling back to Kusadasi, we view the Basilica of St. John. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Patmos, the island where the Apostle John was exiled. It was here that John wrote the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9) in one of the local caves.

Excursion Included: Here we visit the Monastery of St. John, on one of the island’s highest points. From there, we walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse, the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine.

This morning, we arrive and disembark in Heraklion, Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands. Paul left Titus in Crete and gave instructions on appointing church leaders in the towns (Titus 1:5ff).

Excursion Not Included: For those interested, we have the opportunity explore the Knossos excavations dating back to 4000 B.C., when the Minoan empire flourished on the island of Crete. For the rest of us, we will relax and shop over coffee and pastries (not included). In the afternoon, we cruise to the isle of Santorini, considered to be one of the most spectacular Greek islands, and disembark.
Excursion Not Included: Those interested can take a bus tour of the island. The rest of us can take a short cable car ride (not included) to the marketplace and restaurants.

After disembarkation in Piraeus, we will continue our sightseeing with a visit to Ancient Corinth. This is the once-glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla and spent a year and a half preaching the Word of God. We visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples, and the famous Bema, where Paul stood before Gallio, accused by the Jews of Corinth. Then we drive to Cenchreae, the little harbor from which Paul sailed back to Asia, thus ending his second missionary journey. Afterwards, we travel about an hour south visit on the Peloponnese peninsula to the beautiful Nafplio – a resort town for Athenians for centuries. Here we’ll have an afternoon at leisure before venturing back to Athens for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we explore ancient Athens as we follow our guide to the world-renowned Acropolis, to see the Propylea, the Erechtheum, and the Parthenon. We visit Mars Hill, where Paul delivered his speech on the “Unknown God.” Then we see the Agora, the ancient center of the economic and public life of the city, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the bus tour, we also see Constitution Square with the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium, and the Neoclassical Buildings of Athens. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Athens on your own. We reconvene for a special Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant in Plaka, before our final overnight in Athens.

We transfer in the morning to Athens Airport for our return flight back to the U.S.A. We arrive home the same day.

We transfer in the morning to Athens Airport for our flight to Rome. Upon arrival, we meet our tour escort and head to the coast to visit the spectacular ruins of Ostia Antica, the port of ancient Rome in New Testament times. The excavations continue today and provide insight into what Roman cities were like in the 1st century. On the way to Rome, we stop to walk on the ancient stones of the Appian Ways, as Paul did on his way to Rome. We then return to Rome to begin our touring, which includes stops at the Trastevere area of the city where Paul lived for two years. We then check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Our first stop this morning is the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, the celebrated Chapel of the Popes, and the venue of the conclaves for Papal elections. It is one of the most splendid masterpieces in the history of world art and is known around the world for its magnificent ceiling, beautifully decorated by Michelangelo. From here, our next visit is to the Basilica of St. Peter, the largest church in the world, which overlooks the enormous Piazza San Pietro. After a break for lunch (not included), we tour the eternal city. Driving through the main streets of Rome, we will marvel at the monuments of this great capital. Then we stop near the Fontana di Trevi, following tradition by tossing a coin into the fountain, promising to return to Rome. Dinner and overnight are in Rome.

Today, we enjoy a sightseeing tour, including a special visit to the Catacombs where we explore tunnels and see the carvings on the walls from early Christians. From here we continue to St. Peter in Chains. Then we visit the Colosseum, which symbolizes the eternity of the Roman civilization, the Forum, and the Piazza Venezia, dominated by the imposing monument to Vittorio Emanuel II. After lunch (not included), we visit St. John Lateran and the “Sacred Steps.” As a monk, Martin Luther climbed these steps on his knees, trying to merit forgiveness. Afterwards, we visit St. Paul’s Church where tradition believes the Apostle Paul is buried, followed by dinner and overnight in Rome.

We transfer in the morning to Rome Airport for our return flight back to the U.S.A. and arrive the same day.