Footsteps of Apostle Paul in Greece & Turkey 10 days Land
DAY 1
Upon arrival in Athens, you are met by your guide and bus driver. Transfer to your hotel with the rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2
"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 also an altar with this inscription ‘to an unknown God’. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I
proclaim to you…”
Today we visit Athens, one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of western civilization as we know it today.
For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city has been dominated by the rock of the Acropolis, where we see the ruins
of the Parthenon, the Erectheum and the Propylae. We will ascend Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians about
the one and only God. From here we have an excellent view of the Ancient Agora, the former center of the Athenian public
life. Afterwards we board our coach for Corinth, taking the coastal road along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal which
connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. Short stop for pictures and continue to the site of ancient Corinth, Paul's
beloved city and site of his most extensive ministry. Dominated by the Acro-Corinth rising 1,700 feet above the ruins, the
marketplace is laid out exactly as it stood in the days of the great Apostle. We see the bema (the judgment seat) where Paul
stood before Galilo and preached (Acts 18).
“Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have
many people in this city.” (Acts 18:9)
The museum contains a superb collection of artifacts portraying life in ancient Corinth. Time for leisure at the port of
Cenchrae. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
This morning travel to scenic Delphi, one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth, which in antiquity was
believed to be the “navel” (omphalos) of the world. Walk along the Sacred Way to see the Athenian Treasury, the Temple of
Apollo where the oracle delivered her ambiguous prophecies, and the Theater. Also visit the Museum with its splendid
collection of ancient works of art, including the Sphinx of the Naxians, the Silver Bull, the Column of the Dancers, the
“Omphalos” and the pride of the museum, the 5 th century B.C. bronze “Charioteer”. Dinner and overnight in Delphi.
DAY 4
After breakfast begin your trip to Meteora, which has particularly impressive scenery. Continue to the Meteora Monasteries,
perched upon the summits of gigantic rocks which have been etched into a variety of strange shapes. Grey gigantic
stalagmites rising towards the sky seem to be nature's gift to the pious who opted for monasticism and for a life totally
dedicated to the worship of God. The monastic history of the Meteora goes back to the 11th century A.D. when the first
hermits sought peace and solitude in the rifts and caves of these rocks, but the first monasteries were not built until the
14th century A.D. and attained their peak in the 16th. Of the 13 large and 20 small monasteries and hermit cells, only four
are not occupied: Megalo Meteora, Monie Varlaam, Monia Aghias Triadas and Moni Aghiou Stefanou. Apart from portable
icons, miniatures, ecclesiastical robes, utensils and crosses (all excellent examples of Byzantine art), the Meteora
Monasteries also contain rare editions and manuscripts. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 5
Early in the morning and after breakfast, you begin your trip to Veria (Berea) where we visit the monument dedicated to
Paul. We see the Bema where he stood and preached to the people of Veria.
“The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the Jewish
synagogue.” (Acts 17:10-14)
Then continue to Vergina, where Philip built a massive palace and a theater. The site also features hundreds of burial
mounds across the plain, some dating back to the Iron Age. The tomb of Philip was found here in 1977, undisturbed and full
of treasures that are now on display in Thessaloniki’s Archaeological Museum. Continue to Thessaloniki.
“Paul came to Thessaloniki with Silas and following his usual custom, he went to the Synagogue where he used the Jewish
scriptures as the source for his preaching.” (Act 17:2-4)
We become acquainted with this great city where Paul wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. Built by King
Cassandros and named after the sister of Alexander the Great, the city flourished under the Byzantine Empire and its most
important buildings date from those days. Today it is considered to be the second capital of Greece, the “Queen of the
North”. Our city tour takes us to Aghia Sofia Church. Aghia Sofia is a beautiful Christian church which was built in the 8th
century, modeled after the magnificent church of Aghia Sofia in Istanbul. Then see St. Demetrios Church with its valuable
mosaics and frescoes. The crypt of Aghios Demetrios has been an archaeological site since its discovery in 1918. Next, visit
the Byzantine Museum. The site where the monastery of Vlatadon was built is believed to be the location where Jason’s
house once stood and where Paul was accommodated during his visit to Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 6
“Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace and the following day to Neapolis " (Act 16:11)
"And from thence to Philippi which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony; and we were in that city
abiding certain days.” (Act 16:12)
We visit the beautiful city of Kavala (ancient Neapolis), and from there on to Philippi which was a Roman garrison town and
the chief city in the province of Macedonia. It was here that Paul won his first European convert, a woman named Lydia.
Here is also the marketplace where Paul and Silas were brought before the rulers and the cistern which tradition identifies as
the place where St. Paul was imprisoned. Dinner and overnight in Kavala.
DAY 7
Depart from Kavala and drive through the Greek part of Thrace, passing by the towns of Xanthi, Komotini and
Alexandroupolis. Arrive at the border between Greece and Turkey and cross over to the Turkish part of Thrace. Your final
destination is Istanbul (Constantinople), the city which straddles two continents. The capital of the Byzantine Empire for
more than one thousand years and of the Ottoman Empire for more than five hundred years, Istanbul is famous for many
beautiful places and museums, which you will have the opportunity to see the next day. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 8
The prospect of exciting and exotic places to visit gives us new energy. Our first day in the historic city of Istanbul begins at
the Aghia Sophia, the church of “Holy Wisdom” and the crowning achievement of the sacred building program of Emperor
Justinian, the 6th-century head of the Christian Byzantine Empire. This vast light-filled space, surmounted by a great dome
rimmed with windows, remains one of the most impressive sacred edifices ever built by humans to the glory of God. We also
visit the Blue Mosque, which was built during the years 1609-1616 and was intended to compete with the impressive beauty
of the Aghia Sophia. Inside, the famous blue and white tilework is bathed in light from 260 windows. Near the Aghia Sophia
and the Blue Mosque is the Hippodrome, which once stood in the heart of the Byzantine city of Constantinople and originally
held up to 100,000 people. Although little is left of this gigantic stadium, there are a number of impressive columns and
other structures at the site. Then head underground to the Basilica Cistern, a vast water cistern underneath the city. The
cistern’s roof is held up by 336 columns that are over 26 feet high. Visitors tread walkways to the mixed sounds of classical
music and dripping water, making this perhaps the most unusual tourist attraction in Istanbul. Our final stop of the day is the
Grand Bazaar. Nothing can quite prepare you for the labyrinth of streets covered by painted vaults and lined with thousands
of shops whose owners relentlessly pursue you in their quest to make a sale. Tonight, we begin our evening study sessions on
“Paul: His Life and His Letters.”
DAY 9
Our second day begins with a visit to the Archeological Museum, housing spectacular finds from all over Turkey. Afterwards,
we visit the Church of St. Savior in Chora. Built in the 11 th century and decorated in the 14 th , this church houses one of the
best-preserved collections of Byzantine mosaics and frescoes anywhere. Next proceed to Topkapi Palace. This elaborate
complex of buildings and gardens, originating in the 15 th century and greatly expanded over the following centuries, is now a
museum that houses important artifacts and treasures relating to Turkish life and history during the Ottoman Empire. Then
enjoy a beautiful cruise on the Bosphorus Sea, a relaxing and excellent vantage to view Istanbul’s many famous landmarks
that dot both its European and Asian shores. Return to our hotel for an evening worship service and dinner.
DAY 10
Transfer to the airport for your flight home at the end of a marvelous journey.
