In the Footsteps of St. Paul Pilgrimage to Greece with Deacon Kevin Bagley

Tonight we depart from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on an overnight flight to Makedonia Thessaloniki Airport. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Quotes for add-on airfare from most major airports and upgrades to Business and Premium Economy Class seats are available upon request.

Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, we are greeted by our English-speaking tour guide and assisted to the bus. Thessaloniki was named after Alexander the Great’s sister. In the winter of 49-50 A.D., Saint Paul wrote two epistles to the Thessalonians. These letters urged Christians to “live blamelessly” and to refrain from living idly while they wait for the second coming of Christ. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to relax or take a stroll along the streets of Thessaloniki and enjoy the flavor of the city. This evening our group will get together for a welcome wine reception and taste the first of many delectable European-style dinners. Mass (TBC) Dinner at the hotel. (D)

We begin the day by visiting Philippi and Kavala. Kavala is Greece’s prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbor. St. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. St. 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. We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis. Continue on to Philippi, where St. Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We 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 been St. Paul’s prison. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, the Basilica, and the Theatre. Here we celebrate Mass. Dinner tonight is at a local taverna. Overnight in Thessaloniki. (B. Special dinner)

Before we leave Thessaloniki, we celebrate Mass and see the old city ramparts, including the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, and the Galerius Arch. Then continue to Berea to view the ancient synagogue where St. Paul spoke and the Bema surrounded by mosaics of St. Paul, including the plaque of scripture regarding the “more noble” church. Continue to Naoussa, famous for the Xinomavro wine, a red grape variety. Enjoy a visit and a wine-tasting session at Kir Yiannis Winery (wine tasting is accompanied by Greek cheese). Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. (B.D)

Following breakfast this morning, we begin with our tour of the Meteora Monasteries.  Here we see the world-famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched on top of steep gray rock formations. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliffside caves. We stop at an icon-making facility to learn about the art of written icons.  Later we continue with a visit to the travel museum and a truffle hunting session. Enjoy a mushroom product tasting with 5-6 kinds of mushrooms and traditional mushroom spoon sweet accompanied by a glass of local wine. We celebrate Mass in Athens, followed by dinner and overnight in our comfortable hotel. (B.D)

Following breakfast, we proceed to the Piraeus port to board our 3-day cruise. Our first stop will be the island of Mykonos, the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands that attract visitors from all over the world. After docking, transfer to Hora, the island’s capital. Upon arrival in Hora, 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. This section of Mykonos is 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. Mass will be celebrated. Return to the cruise ship for dinner and overnight. (B.L.D.)

After breakfast on board, arrive at the lively Turkish port of Kusadasi. Transfer to the small village of Mt. Koressos. While in this village, we visit the small stone chapel that is situated upon the site of where the Virgin Mary spent her last days following Christ’s crucifixion. Mass will be celebrated on this holy site. We walk through the Magnesian Gate to the ancient Ephesus. The walking tour takes us through the most magnificent excavations in the world. Some of the sites include the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, and the Library of Celsus. The last stop on the walking tour is the Great Theatre, the largest ancient theater that had a capacity of 25,000 people and is a site where Saint Paul preached. On the return of our walking tour, we follow the exact route that Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession via the Arcadian Way. Our ship sails to the island of Patmos in the afternoon. We disembark and are transferred to the village of Chora for a visit to the monastery of Saint John the Theologian. This marvelous structure was built nine hundred years ago and continues to be supported by the walls of a strong fortification. In addition to the stunning main church that contains outstanding frescoes, we see the beautiful courtyard, dining room, and bakery. Our tour continues to the small museum, where we view priceless ecclesiastical treasures such as books, manuscripts, mosaics, icons, textiles, vestments, and jewelry. Then board the bus, which takes us to the Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse. In this grotto, experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the site where the Book of Revelation was written. The silver niches in the wall mark the pillow and ledge that were used as a desk by St. John.  We see the three-fold crack made by the voice of God, who emphasized the importance of honoring the Holy Trinity.  Return to the ship in the late afternoon. (B.L.D.)

This morning, we explore the island of Crete, Heraklion, (this is an optional excursions and the tickets can be bought on the ship). While in this administrative capital, we visit the ancient ruins of the Palace of Knossos. These ruins were discovered in 1899.  This ancient palace is believed to have been the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. Additionally, it is the site of where Saint Paul met the owner and captain of the ship, who warned him to continue his journey to spread Christianity in Rome. The next stop is the idyllic island of Santorini, the most breathtaking island of all of the Greek Islands. Upon arrival in Santorini,we visit Thira with its iconic white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes, and glittering boutiques that cling to steep cliffs. We celebrate Mass on the ship. Dinner and overnight on the ship. (B.L.D.)

This morning, we disembark from the ship and are transferred to ancient Corinth. Under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Saint Paul lived in Corinth for two years. While here, Saint Paul felt great grief over the way that the Gentile Church in Corinth had become. As a result, he was prompted to write four letters, all with the overarching theme of love. In Corinth, we have the opportunity to view the remains of the first-century shops, the site of Saint Paul’s trial by Gallio, the Fountain of Peirene, and the Temple of Apollo. Mass will be celebrated. After your tour in Corinth, we visit an Olive Oil production and Nemea, an area producing one of the famous Greek red wines Agiorgitiko. Enjoy lunch at the winery with a wine-tasting session. Following our visit to Corinth and an included lunch, we return to Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens. (B.L.D.) 

After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we celebrate Mass and have a tour of one of the oldest cities in the world, Athens! Visit the rock that has dominated the panorama of Athens for twenty-five centuries, the Acropolis. At the Acropolis, see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erectheum, and Propylene. Ascend Mars Hill, where Saint Paul spoke to the Athenians about the one and only God (Acts 17:22). View the ancient Agora, the former public center of Athenian life. It held the focus of a political, commercial, social, religious, and cultural center. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Athens on your own. We recommend a visit to the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture or the Anthropology Museum, two of the best museums in the region. Tonight we enjoy a festive farewell dinner with music in the Plaka Section of the city. (B. Special dinner)

This morning we are transferred to Athens air-port for our return flight(s) home. (B.)