Catholic 14 days – Footsteps of St. Paul
DAY 1
Upon arrival at the Athens airport, we will enjoy a city orientation tour before checking-in to our hotel in the early afternoon for time at leisure. Gather prior to
dinner for our inaugural Mass of welcome.
Athens overnight (D)
DAY 2
We start our journey this morning with a special Mass. Our experienced guide will then show us the great city of Athens, the most important city of ancient
Greece and famed for its culture, learning, and great philosophers. Visit the spectacular Acropolis, the Parthenon and the Aeropagus, where Paul delivered his
famous sermon about the identity of "the Unknown God" (Acts 17:15-34). We continue to Corinth for a guided visit of the Excavations and where the Apostle
Paul worked for 18 months with tent makers Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-18).
Athens overnight (BD)
DAY 3
Begin your 3-DAY Cruise with a visit to the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos. Free time to explore the island before returning to the ship for evening
entertainment. Wonder at the island’s beautiful landscape, the small white-painted houses in picturesque villages, the many little family churches and golden,
sandy beaches with their transparent waters.
On board Cruise (BLD)
DAY 4
Visit Patmos with free time to discover the “Jerusalem of the Aegean”. We will join a special tour to the Monastery of St. John and tour the Cave of the
Apocalypse, where John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation during his exile (Rev. 1:9-11). Continue your cruise to the Turkish port of Kusadasi, where
we will join a memorable exploration of the ruins of Ephesus, whose inhabitants were the recipients of Apostle Paul’s famous epistle (Acts 18:19-26; Ephesians)
and which was once the capital of the Roman province of Asia.
Then continue onto the House of Mary, where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent her last days on this earth.
On board Cruise (BLD)
DAY 5
In the morning we will visit Heraklion. Heraklion is just three miles away from 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. It is in Heraklion where Paul
met the owner and captain of the ship who warned him of continuing his journey to Rome. In the afternoon we will cruise on to the idyllic island of Santorini.
Santorini is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. In the town of Thira, white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering
boutiques cling to steep cliffs accessible only by cable car or mule. Return back to the ship.
On board Cruise (BLD)
DAY 6
Disembark from cruise and start a tour of northern Greece. Today we travel on to the small town of Kalambaka built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks of
Meteora. We will spend a fascinating afternoon marveling at this unique phenomenon of nature – 24 perpendicular rocks where Byzantine monks chose to
worship God and build their Monastic community 600 years ago. We will visit some of these living monasteries and view the extraordinary collection of
priceless religious frescoes and other treasures.
Kalambaka overnight (BD)
DAY 7
Our morning will begin with a visit to the beautiful Church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Kalambaka among other local highlights before our pilgrimage
continues north to Veria – ancient Berea – and its memorial commemorating St Paul’s preaching to the local Jews in 54 A.D and where the scriptures say that
the people “were more noble than in Thessaloniki”. Visit the Bema of St Paul where the Apostle stood and preached the Gospel to the local community.
Continue on to Thessaloniki where St Paul once preached during the winters of 49-50AD and wrote the two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians.
Thessaloniki overnight (BD)
DAY 8
Set off on our morning tour of Thessaloniki. See the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius and the Roman Agora where St Paul once preached.
We shall also see St Demetrios’ Church with its valuable mosaics and frescoes, and will drive up to the upper town which offers a marvelous view of the city.
Our journey today continues along the ancient route of the Apostle Paul to Amphipolis (Acts 17:1) before our arrival into Kavala (ancient Neapolis) for our two-
night stay.
Kavala overnight (BD)
DAY 9
Arise and journey out in the footsteps of St Paul to nearby Philippi, named after Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. This busy Roman colony boasted a
great library and theater. Here Paul established the first church in Europe, and it was to this church that he wrote one of his epistles while imprisoned in Rome
(Acts 16:11-40; Philippians).
Here in Philippi St Paul won his first European convert, a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira. Visit the Baptistery of Lydia, the marketplace (where St
Paul and St Silvanus were brought before the rulers) and the cistern which tradition identifies as the place where St Paul was imprisoned.
After returning to Kavala we visit the site where Paul, Timothy and Silvanus first landed. Enjoy a refreshing afternoon at leisure in this charming ancient fishing
port once named Christoupolis after being the first European city to accept Christianity.
Kavala overnight (BD)
DAY 10
Return to Thessaloniki this morning for our afternoon flight to Rome. On arrival, we will visit Tre Fontane Abbey which is said to have been built on the site of
St Paul’s martyrdom. After the saint’s beheading it is said that three fountains sprung up from the places where his head hit the ground.
Rome overnight (BD)
DAY 11
Today we continue our Rome pilgrimage to the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls as we pay tribute to the Church’s greatest evangelist. We journey on to
the ancient Catacombs for a memorable guided tour. During the persecutions, the catacombs were used as places of refuge for the celebration of the
Eucharist. We celebrate our own special private Mass in this sacred site before continuing onwards to the Basilica of St John in Lateran (First Papal residence
and Cathedral of Rome) and the adjacent Holy Stairs, brought from Jerusalem to Rome around 326 A.D by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. We
then continue by coach to explore the impressive St Mary Major Basilica.
Set out this evening after dinner to explore the Aventine Hill area, where the first Christian meetings were held in honor of St Paul and where it is said that he
was held under house arrest (Acts 28:16-17). Continue by coach past illuminated landmarks and famous monuments and culminate our tour with a visit to the
Trevi Fountain before strolling to the Piazza Navona to indulge in a gelati or coffee.
Rome overnight (BD)
DAY 12
Today we start with an early, memorable private Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. After Mass we will have some time for a coffee in the nearby cafes with the locals
and then enjoy a walk through the inspiring Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, world-famous for Michelangelo's ceiling paintings and The Last
Judgment.
We continue and cross the historic Tiber River and visit the Colosseum (one of the New 7 Wonders of the World), Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum,
where Roman legions marched in triumph.
Rome overnight (BD)
DAY 13
(Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul)
Concluding with the world wide Mass with Pope Benedict to celebrate the conclusion of the Pauline Jubilee Year.
Rome overnight (BD)
DAY 14
Your tour ends after breakfast this morning with a group transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.
(B)
