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Day 1: Departure from US
Today we embark on our Journey to the lands of ancient treasures and Christian history with an overnight flight to Athens. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the flight…Tomorrow you will be walking where the apostles walked!
Day 2: Arrive Athens
We arrive in Athens and check into our hotel. You will have the remainder of the day free to relax or take a stroll along the streets of Athens to enjoy the flavor of the city. This evening our group will enjoy the first of many delectable European style dinners.
Day 3: Cruising Mykonos
We sail this morning from Athens to the quaint isle of Mykonos, called the island of windmills. Experience the waterfront lined with shops and cafes and then stroll the charming walkways through a maze of whitewashed buildings before returning to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment.
Day 4: Ephesus and Patmos
Docking in Turkey, enjoy an optional tour of Ephesus, the city of the Bible and one of the largest restorations still in progress with miles of ancient treasures. Ephesus was once a thriving port town of 250,000 people. Today you can still see the spectacular excavations of the major streets in this ancient city. We'll view the Library, Agora, Temple of Artemis and visit the Basilica of St. John. The basilica is believed to be the site of the grave of John. From here we'll also enjoy a panoramic view of the area. This afternoon we visit the Isle of Patmos, under statutory protection as a historic monument. Here we have a optional tour to see the fortified monastery of St. John and the cave claimed to be where John received the Revelation. Back on the ship, enjoy the Captain's dinner before settling in to your cabin for the night.
Day 5: Crete and Santorini
Crete is the largest and the most rugged of the Greek islands. Take
an optional tour to Heraklion and the fantastic ruins of the Palace
of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 and partially reconstructed, the
elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King
Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. This afternoon visit
the island of Santorini which is perhaps the most breathtaking of
all the Greek Islands. The town of Thira where white-washed houses, narrow
streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to steep
cliffs, is accessible by foot path, cable-car or mule. You may choose to take an
optional tour of sailing around an active volcano crater and
swimming in the water heated by hot springs or enjoy this lovely
island on foot. Again we return to the ship for dinner and evening
entertainment.
Day 6: Disembark Cruise – Athens
We disembark the cruise this morning and travel into 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. Additional sites include the Agora (ancient market
place and center of Athenian public life), the House of Parliament,
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential
Palace. A short walk from your hotel is the famous Plaka with a
multitude of shops and cafes.
Our lodging is in Athens for the next two evenings.
Day 7: Corinth & Mycenae
Departing Athens, we stop for a rest stop and photos at the Corinth Canal and then travel to the ancient city of Corinth, another treat for the New Testament scholar. Corinth is the city
that inspired many of Paul's most familiar letters. See the
Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples.
To enjoy a devotional in the midst of the ruins of the church of
Corinth and see the pillars, steps, and public worship place where
Paul preached will enhance your understanding and love of I & II
Corinthians. The ruins of this important cultural center are
fascinating as we walk along the stone path that the Apostle Paul
walked. The engineering skill and intellect of these people are
evident in the water systems that still flow from ancient to modern
day. Our guide will be sure to show you the room dedicated to the
medical care of that period. After the visit to ancient Corinth we
travel to Mycenae where the remains of the ancient city date back to
the Bronze Age to see the famous Lionesse Gate, the Tomb of
Agamennon in the shape of a Beehive, and many other sites before
continuing back to Athens.
Day 8: Meteora Monastery
From Athens, our tour travels northward past
Thermopylae
where we learn of the famous Spartan battle of 300. We continue
through the mountains to Meteroa. Here we see the world famous
Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of
gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history
goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the
cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden
shelters, later transformed into monasteries. Our lodging this
evening will be in Meteora.
Day 9: Vergina, Berea, Thessalonica
Traveling northward into Macedonia we visit King Phillip's (Alexander's father)
tomb in Vergina, one of the most outstanding finds in all of Greece.
A stop will be made in Berea to view the ancient synagogue where Paul spoke and the Bema surrounded by mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the "more noble" church. The New Testament books of I & II
Thessalonians will come alive to us today as we arrive in the
delightful harbor city of Thessalonica. En route to the hotel we
will view the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St.
George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into
a church and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via
Egnatia. We spend two nights here.
Day 10: Thessalonica/Philippi/Kavala
We begin the day by following the massive battlement Byzantine wall
to the citadel for a panoramic view of the city. Next, we will visit
Philippi
and
Kavala.
Kavala is Greece's prettiest mainland port with a most elegant
harbor. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas.
Luke, the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city
of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis because it was the first
European city to accept Christianity. Imagine walking on the same
sod as these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and
the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known
since the 5th century as Kavala. Continue on to Philippi where Paul
preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first
Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia
surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the
Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul.
See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the
Theatre. We return to Thessalonica and visit St. Demetrius basilica,
dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred
Christian convert before returning to the hotel for our final night.
Day 11: Rome, Italy
This morning we fly to Rome, our home for the next two nights. In the afternoon, we begin our walking tour at the ancient Roman Forum where our guide will divulge its secrets. We visit the Arch of Titus which commemorated
the sack of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70. We step inside the Mamertine Prison, where tradition says the Apostle Paul was imprisoned. The Roman church would say that Peter was imprisoned here as well, but there is no imperial evidence that Peter was ever in Rome. Next, we visit the Coliseum, where thousands of people and animals perished during gladiatorial games. The Coliseum first opened in AD 80 and within 100 days of its opening, 5,000 wild beasts perished here. The slaughter of both humans and animals continued for three more
centuries. Historians believe the Coliseum could hold between 40,000 and 80,000 people depending on how close the seating was. The floor has recently had a plank placed over the middle making it accessible for people to walk over the labyrinth of brick cells, ramps, and elevators used to transport animals and gladiators into the arena. Hear the stories of the games that have fascinated people for years.
Day 12: Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter Basilica, Scala Santa, and Church of San Paulo Alla Regola
After breakfast we begin a full day of sightseeing. The first visit is to Vatican City to see the Basilica at St. Peter, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums with stunning works of art at every turn. After free time for lunch, we visit the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the traditional site of Paul’s tomb, and the Scala Santa, where Martin Luther made his stand against the practice of indulgences. This fascinating museum houses the Steps from Pilot’s Judgment Hall in Jerusalem brought to Rome by Helena, the mother of Constantine. The
practice today is to climb the steps on your knees, stopping to pray on each step. Our last stop today will be the Church of San Paolo Alla Regola, where it is said that Paul attended in the house excavated below the church building. It has perfect acoustics as we sing a hymn and hear the Scriptures read of Paul’s writings. Additional sites include the Arches of Constantine and Titus, Circus Maximums, and the beautiful marble monument called the Wedding Cake.
Day 13: Homeward Bound
We transfer to the airport for our flight back to the USA.
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