The Way of St. Paul and St. John in Greece and Turkey with Stephen Binz

We depart from Little Rock Airport to connect to our international flight to Greece. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board. Premium economy and business class upgrades are available upon request.

Upon landing at Thessaloniki Airport Macedonia, we make our way to the baggage claim area, collect our luggage, and proceed to the arrival hall, where we will be greeted by our English-speaking tour guide and assisted to the bus. St. Paul preached in the main synagogue of Thessaloniki and wrote two letters to the Thessalonians. Here we see the triumphal Arch of Galerius, constructed to honor the Roman Emperor Galerius following his victory over the Persians, spanning the ancient Via Egnatia. We also visit the Byzantine Church of Hosios David and the Rotunda of St. George, with its early Christian mosaics. After celebrating Mass, we settle into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (D.)

During our walking tour, we explore the architecture, churches, and monasteries of Thessaloniki’s Byzantine tradition, including the Church of Hagia Sophia with its eighth-century mosaics, the small Church of St. Panteleimon, the Church of Acheiropoietos, the Church of Panagia Chalkeon, and the Church of St. Demetrius, patron saint of the city. Following lunch, we depart for Vergina (ancient Aigai), the first capital of Macedonia. Here Phillip II was assassinated in 336 B.C. making Alexander the Great the leader of the Macedonian Kingdom. We explore the remarkable underground Museum of the Royal Tombs. Next, we visit Veria (Biblical Beroea), a charming town with a Jewish quarter and dozens of Byzantine churches. Paul visited here twice, and both Jews and Greeks eagerly received his message. We visit the “bema” where Paul preached, marked with a monument of mosaics and a nearby statue of Paul. We will celebrate Mass at holy sites on most days of our pilgrimage. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)

We travel to Philippi, where Paul established the first Christian community in Europe. We will celebrate Mass at the river, where Paul spoke to a group of women and baptized Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth as the first European convert. We then visit the Roman Forum, where Paul cast a spirit out of a fortune-telling woman, and the ruins of the prison, where Paul and Silas were held in chains and miraculously released. We will also visit the new Baptistry of St. Lydia. After his stay, Paul wrote a letter filled with joyful gratitude to the Philippians. We continue on to the city of Kavala, which was the ancient Port of Neapolis. After being urged to travel to Macedonia, Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy crossed into Europe, arriving by sea at this port. At the Church of St. Nikolaus, we view a monument entitled “The arrival of the Apostle Paul in Neapolis of Philippi,” honoring his first steps in Europe. After enjoying this city by the sea, we return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight. (B. D.)

We travel through the Greek countryside, past Mount Olympus, legendary home to the Greek gods, to the Meteora Monasteries. Hiding in caves from the Ottoman invaders in the 11th century, the monks were forced to move their settlements higher upon the rocks until they were unreachable by the invading armies. Meteora means “suspended in the air,” as the beautiful monasteries were established by bringing building materials and food supplies by ladders and baskets. The Byzantine monasteries perched on top of steep rocks enclose priceless manuscripts, artifacts, and paintings. While visiting the monasteries, we will enjoy the breathtaking scenery surrounding them. (Reaching the monasteries requires walking over uneven terrain and many steps.) In the afternoon, we visit an icon workshop in the area, where we will see how icons are made. We will enjoy a delicious Greek dinner and overnight stay in Kalambaka. (B. D.)

We drive to Delphi, the center of the world for the ancient Greeks and the “navel” of the earth. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, we follow the Sacred Way to the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Here people came from many lands to seek oracles from the god about what courses of action they should take in particular circumstances. After visiting the various ruins of ancient Delphi, we continue on to Athens. Here Paul arrived at one of the most glorious cities in the world, though he was deeply distressed to see it full of idols. He preached to the Jews in the synagogue and debated with philosophers in the marketplace. Seeing an altar dedicated “to an unknown god,” Paul announces that he is proclaiming the God whom they worship as unknown. We view the ancient Agora, the political, commercial, social, religious, and cultural center of Athenian life in the first century. Driving through the modern city, we view the House of Parliament on Syntagma Square, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, then Panathenaic Stadium, the beautifully marbled multi-purpose stadium and site of the first modern-era Olympic Games in 1896. Dinner is at our leisure tonight and an opportunity to taste Greek foods in one of the many local restaurants near our hotel. Overnight in Athens. (B)

We proceed to the Piraeus port to board our 3-night cruise. Our first stop will be the island of Mykonos, the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands. After docking, we transfer to Hora, the island’s capital, where we enjoy a walking tour that will take us on the city’s narrow cobbled streets. Pass by chic boutiques, elegant nightclubs, and white-washed houses to arrive in Alefkandra, known as the “Venice of Mykonos,” as the homes have wooden balconies and are built on the sea. Historically, these homes were of wealthy merchants and captains. Return to the cruise ship for dinner and overnight. (B. L. D.)

We enjoy our breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day on board. In the morning we arrive at the lively Turkish port of Kusadasi. We then enjoy a private tour of the small village of Mt. Koressos, where we visit the House of Mary, a stone chapel on the site where the Virgin Mary lived as she was cared for by the apostle John. We then walk through the Magnesian Gate to the ancient Ephesus, where Paul lived for nearly three years. The walking tour takes us through the most magnificent excavations in the world, including the Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Library of Celsus. We then view the Great Theatre, the largest ancient theatre with a capacity of 25,000 people. Here a riot against Paul was led by the silversmiths who made a living by making silver statues of the Mother Goddess Artemis. We will also view the ruins of the Church of St. Mary, where the Council of Ephesus was held, declaring Mary the Theotokos. Finally we travel to the ruins of the 6th century Basilica of St. John, honoring the apostle and author of the Gospel of John. We view the ancient baptistry and the altar where John was buried. From here we can view the one remaining pillar of the Temple of Artemis, one of the ancient wonders of the world. In the afternoon our ship sails to the Island of Patmos, where we enjoy another private tour (provided weather conditions allow the ship to dock). We disembark and transfer to the village of Chora to visit the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. In addition to the stunning main church and its frescoes, we see the beautiful courtyard, dining room, and bakery. Our tour continues to the small museum, where you will view priceless ecclesiastical treasures such as books, manuscripts, mosaics, icons, textiles, vestments, and jewelry. We then journey up the hill to the Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse. Here we pray at the site where John wrote the Book of Revelations. The silver niches in the wall mark the seat and ledge that were used as a desk by St. John. We walk down the hill to the village of Patmos to board our ship in the late afternoon. We enjoy dinner and overnight on board. (B. L. D.)

This morning, we explore Heraklion, capital of the island of Crete. We visit the ruins of the Palace of Knossos, site of the Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. Crete is the site where Paul met the owner and captain of the ship, who warned him against continuing his journey to Rome. Paul later ordained his companion Titus as bishop of Crete (Tit 1:5). The Church of St. Titus contains the skull of St Titus, venerated in a silver reliquary. In the afternoon, we dock at the idyllic island of Santorini. We enjoy its breathtaking views, iconic white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes, and glittering boutiques that cling to cliffs. This evening we return to the ship for our last dinner of the cruise and overnight on board. (B. L. D.)

We disembark from the ship and transfer to ancient Corinth. Under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Paul lived in Corinth for two years. Here we view the remains of the first-century shops, the site of Paul’s trial by Gallio, the Fountain of Peirene, and the Temple of Apollo. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians express the concerns of a loving pastor. Following our visit to Corinth, we return to Athens. We ascend Mars Hill, where Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and addressed the Athenians about the one Lord of heaven and earth. We then visit the Acropolis, viewing the ruins of the Parthenon, Erechtheum, and Propylaea. Tonight, we have a festive dinner in the Plaka section of the city. (B. Special Dinner)

This morning we are transferred to Athens airport for our return flights home. Full lunch and a snack are served on the plane. We return with memories and inspiration that will last a lifetime. (B)