A Pilgrimage to Greece with Fr Fernandes, OFM Cap.

We meet at church for our bus transfer to Newark Airport. Depart on an overnight flight from Newark to Thessaloniki. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.

Upon landing at Thessaloniki Airport, we pass through passport control and customs. Proceed to the arrival hall, where we will be greeted by our English-speaking tour guide and assisted to the motorcoach. Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece, is named in honor of a half-sister of Alexander. The city, part of Macedonian Greece, is also known as Salonika. Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians, written in the middle of the first century, is his first known letter. His two letters urged the Thessalonian Christians to “live blamelessly” and to refrain from living idly while they wait for the second coming of Christ. We settle into our comfortable hotel for a good night’s rest. Overnight in Thessaloniki. (Dinner at the hotel) Mass will be celebrated every day.

After breakfast, which is included each morning, Our first stop of the day is in Philippi, where Saint Paul established the first church in Europe. “And from there (He went) to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman Colony. We remained in this city some days...” (Acts 16:12-18). Also, it is the site where Saint Paul baptized a woman named Lydia, the first convert to Christianity in Europe. We visit the Roman Forum, where Saint Paul casts a spirit out of a fortune-telling woman. While here, we will have the opportunity to view the prison (now in ruins) where the owners of the fortune-tellers jailed Paul and Silas. We continue to the modern port city of Kavala, which was once the ancient Neapolis. Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy landed in this port when they sailed into Europe. After enjoying this city by the sea, we return to Thessaloniki for a delicious meal and restful overnight. (B.D)

We visit Thessaloniki in-depth, its Byzantine tradition expressed in architecture, churches, and monasteries. We explore the Church of St. Sophia with its eighth-century mosaics; the Church of St. Demetrius, the patron saint of the city; the fifth-century Rotunda to view its well-preserved mosaics; and the Arch of Galerius. We travel to Veria, a charming town with a Byzantine and Jewish presence, to visit small Byzantine churches and the Bema of St. Paul. We continue to Vergina, the first capital of Macedonia. This is where Phillip II was assassinated in 336 B.C. We visit the remarkable underground museum with its four tombs containing the tomb of Alexander the Great’s family. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

After breakfast, we celebrate Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church and then travel to Meteora, where we reach by early lunchtime. After lunch, we visit the Meteora Monasteries. In the eleventh century, monks settled within the caves. As the Ottoman occupation increased, the monks were forced to move their settlements higher upon the rocks until they were unreachable by any opposing enemy. The monks brought baskets of building materials and living supplies using ropes and ladders, transforming these settlements into monasteries. The Meteora Monasteries are known for preserving not only Greek Christianity but also Hellenic academics and arts. During our visit, we will be able to view stunning Byzantine art and the breathtaking scenery surrounding the monastery. We also visit an icon workshop in the area, where we see how icons are made. We will have a wonderful meal and a relaxing overnight in Kalambaka this evening. (B. D)

Following breakfast, we celebrate Mass at the hotel before we drive to Delphi, the center of the ancient world and “navel” of the earth, whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the pagan Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Visit the site before continuing to Athens. “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription ‘to an unknown God.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you….” Athens is one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of western civilization as we know it today. Dinner is at leisure tonight. We enjoy an opportunity to taste Greek food in one of the many local restaurants near our hotel. Overnight in Athens. (B)

We visit 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 will 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. Following our visit to Corinth, we return to Athens to visit the rock that has dominated the panorama of Athens for twenty-five centuries, the Acropolis. At the Acropolis, we will see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erechtheum, and Propylaea. Ascend Mars Hill, where Saint Paul spoke to the Athenians about the one and only God (Acts 17:22). See the ancient Agora, the former public center of Athenian life. We have a festive dinner in the Plaka section of the city. (B. Special dinner)

Following breakfast, we celebrate Mass before proceeding to the Port to board our 4-day cruise. Our first stop will be the Island of Mykonos, the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands that attract visitors worldwide. After docking, we transfer to Hora, the island’s capital, where we have leisure time to explore the city’s narrow, cobbled streets. Pass by chic boutiques, elegant nightclubs, and white-washed houses before arriving in Alefkandra. This section of Mykonos is known as the “Venice of Mykonos,” as the homes have wooden balconies 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)

Following breakfast on board, we arrive at the lively Turkish port of Kusadasi. Transfer to the small village of Mt. Koressos, where we will visit the small stone chapel on the site where the Virgin Mary spent her last days following Christ’s crucifixion. Here we will celebrate Mass before continuing to ancient Ephesus, where we begin our walking tour, which takes us through the most magnificent excavations in the world. The last stop on the walking tour is the Great Theater, with a capacity of 25,000 people, where Saint Paul preached. We follow the exact route that Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession via the Arcadian Way. This main street runs from the Great Theatre to the main city’s harbor. On our transfer back to Kusadasi, we see the Basilica of Saint John. In the sixth century, Emperor Justinian erected this structure over the grave of St. John, the Evangelist. Upon arrival in Kusadasi, enjoy free time to explore on our own before returning to the ship. The next stop is Patmos, where we visit the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. This marvelous structure was built nine hundred years ago and continues to be supported by strong fortification walls. In addition to the stunning main church with outstanding frescoes, we will view 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. Board the bus, taking 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. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight. (B.L.D)

The Island of Rhodes is a mix of Roman and Byzantine architectural styles. Rhodes was one of the most important seafaring and trading centers in the Eastern Mediterranean during ancient times. Conquered in 1309 by the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, it is now under the protection of UNESCO. A tour of Rhodes is included in the morning, along with time at leisure to explore on our own. We can return to the ship for our included lunch or enjoy lunch on our own in town. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight. (B.L.D)

This morning, if you purchased the optional shore excursion onboard, we transfer to the largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion, where we see the ancient ruins of the Palace of Knossos. These ruins were discovered in 1899, and the palace is currently partially reconstructed. 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 where Saint Paul met the owner and captain of the ship, who warned him of continuing his journey to spread Christianity in Rome. If you chose not to purchase the optional excursion, your time in Crete would be at leisure. Return to the ship to sail to the idyllic island of Santorini, definitively the most breathtaking island of all the Greek Islands. We disembark via tender upon arrival in Santorini. We take the cable car (€15 round-trip) to visit Thira with its iconic white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes, and glittering boutiques clinging to steep cliffs. We celebrate Mass at St. John Catholic Church of Santorini (TBC), Returning to the ship for our last dinner and overnight on our cruise. (B.L.D)

This morning, we disembark from our cruise. Today marks the end of our pilgrimage. We will say our heartfelt farewells to a journey that will last in our memory forever. We are transferred to the Athens airport for our return flight home. (B)