Footsteps of Apostle Paul in Greece, Turkey & Cyprus
DAY 1
Arrive in Athens, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 2
Your journey in the mainland of Greece begins with a drive from Athens to Kalambaka, central Greece. Here you find scenery of unique and
striking beauty: perched on top of huge granite pinnacles, you see the ageless Meteora Monasteries full of treasures of Christian art. Visit
one of them and drive to your hotel in Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
This morning you get a taste of the beautiful countryside of Central and Northern Greece as you drive from Kalambaka to Veria, where you
visit the Bema of the Apostle Paul. Continue to Thessaloniki and get acquainted with the city of Jason and Paul. Dinner and overnight in
Thessaloniki.
DAY 4
Follow the route of the Via Egnatia and visit the area of Amphipolis, like Paul and his companion, to see the famous funerary Lion of
Amphipolis and the site of Philippi. There, you visit the Baptistery of Lydia near the river, where Paul baptized her. Lydia was the first convert
of Paul on European soil, followed by the jailer. Also visit the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, the “Prison of Paul” and
the Theater. Drive to Kavala (Neapolis), a picturesque city-port, and view the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct. Return to
Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5
In the morning, drive to Thessaloniki and see the landmark of the city, the White Tower, as well as the Walls of the Byzantine Acropolis, the
Roman Arch of Galerius and the Rotonda. Visit two of the city’s oldest and most admired Christian churches, the Basilicas of St. Demetrius
and Aghia Sophia. Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6
This morning you will board the cruise ship and sail to the world-famous island of Mykonos. The town is a small architectural miracle, with its
gleaming white-washed buildings and windmills, and it is one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world.
DAY 7
In the morning you will arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey, and have the option to drive to Ephesus, where Paul spent three years during his ministry.
The impressive remains of Ephesus include the Agora, the Theater, the Stadium, the Library of Celsius, the ruins of the Temple of Diana (one
of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”) and many more. Later you will sail for the island of Patmos, where you can choose to visit the
Monastery of St. John, on one of the island’s highest points. From there, you will walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse, the site of the
apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine.
DAY 8
In the morning arrive in Heraklion, Crete, where you can visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos, home to king Minos and his legendary
beast, the Minotaur. In the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, you can find the unbelievable works of art (pieces of sculpture and
pottery, jewelry, arms, frescoes) that have been found in a number of Minoan sites all over Crete. In the afternoon, arrive at the isle of
Santorini, the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands. The exquisite whitewashed villages, including the town of Fira, or Thira, cling to
volcanic cliffs accessible only by cable car or mule.
DAY 9
You arrive in Piraeus, Athens, early in the morning and disembark after breakfast. Today you will admire the architectural miracles of ancient
Athens, as you follow your guide to the world-renowned Acropolis to see the Propylea, the Erectheum and the Parthenon. Visit Mars Hill
where Paul delivered his speech on the “Unknown God”. View the Agora, the ancient center of the economic and public life of the city,
where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the bus tour, you see Constitution Square with the House of Parliament and the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium and Neoclassical buildings of Athens like the National
University, the National Library and the Academy. Then, you continue your trip to Ancient Corinth. This is the once glorious city near the
Isthmus, where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla and spent a year and a half preaching the Gospel. You also visit the Archaeological Museum, the
Forum, the Temples, and the famous Bema where Paul stood before Gallio, accused by the Jews of Corinth. Then you drive to Cenchreae, the
little harbor Paul sailed back to Asia from ending his second missionary journey. Back to Athens for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10
Take a flight from Athens to Cyprus this morning. Highlights of the Bitter Lemons Kerynia Tour include a visit to Bellapais Abbey (made
famous in the novel "Bitter Lemons" by Lawrence Durrell) and exploring picturesque Kyrenia - home of the Kyrenia Castle Museum where you
will see the oldest shipwreck ever brought out of the water. Cross the "Green Line" on a walking tour into Northern Cyprus and tour the
grounds of St. Hilarion Castle.
DAY 11
Take this tour to the only divided capital city in the world - Nicosia, Cyprus. You will visit St. John's Cathedral, the Byzantine Museum, the Old
Quarter of Laiki Yitonia and have plenty of time on your own to explore the city center before the tour departs for the village of Lefkara,
famous for its handmade lace.
DAY 12
Take a flight home from Cyprus today.
