Itinerary
DAY 1:
Thessalonica
The trip will start with your arrival in Thessalonica
airport where we will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Day at
leisure, dinner and overnight Thessalonica.
DAY 2:
Thessalonica / Philippi / Kavala / Thessalonica
Breakfast and trip to Philippi, the town where Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe, sowing the seeds of Christianity.
“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 16:11-12). Paul arrived here with Silas and Luke on the winter of AD 49 to AD50. There
the first Christian baptism was performed, of a woman named Lydia. Although they were prosecuted and arrested, they
received God’s help to escape from prison (Acts 16: 25-26) where there was the conversion of the jailer (Acts 16: 31). We
will visit the Roman Theatre, probable site of the prison where Paul and Silas were arrested. We will continue towards the
city of Kavala, the ancient city of Neapolis (Acts 16:11) where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. It was later
renamed Christoupolis, meaning city of Christ, because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. We will visit the
Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis. Dinner and overnight in Thessalonica.
DAY 3:
Thessalonica city tour / Veria / Vergina / Kalambaka
After breakfast the trip continues with exploring the
city of
Thessalonica, where Paul preached the gospel in the second and third
missionary journey. For the early Christians of this
city he wrote epistles “To the Thessalonians.”. We will visit the
Cathedral of St. Demetrius, the Protector Saint of the city, the
Agora, the Church of Saint Sofia, the White Tower and the Byzantine
fortress of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius
starting at the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman
Empire. Next stop will be Veria (Berea), another town
evangelized by Paul (Acts 17: 10-14). When Saint Paul visited this town
in AD50, he came across a more “noble” Jewish
community where he preached and created an important Church. This is
where Paul met Sopatros (or Sosipatros), who
would later become a valuable comrade who followed him on his return
journey to Asia. We will visit the ancient synagogue
where we will see the Byzantine mosaic in the monument commemorating his
preaching. Then we will head to Vergina,
the legendary burial site of the Macedonian kings. This place is
considered as a World Heritage Site, also known as the
Royal Tombs and houses the tomb of King Philip II, father of Alexander
the Great. Depart for Kalambaka for dinner and
overnight.
DAY 4:
Kalambaka / Meteora / Delphi
After breakfast the trip continues with a visit the spectacular
Meteora, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a mountainous region of stunning scenery. You will see
hundred-year-old Byzantine monasteries on top of huge rocks, during the Middle Ages, first built in the 14th century by
monks seeking isolation and salvation. We will visit the most famous of them, which is now a popular museum, the Great
Meteoron, to admire superb icons, old manuscripts, unique mosaics and frescoes. We will continue to Delphi for dinner
and overnight.
DAY 5:
Delphi / Athens
After breakfast we will continue our tour with
exploring Delphi. Delphi is the famous oracle where the priestess of
Apollo, Pitia, influenced, with their prophecies the history of cities
and states of antiquity. Visit the archaeological site and
museum. The museum houses an impressive collection associated with
ancient Delphi, including the earliest known notation of a melody, the
famous Charioteer, golden treasures discovered beneath the Sacred Way,
and fragments of reliefs from the Siphnian Treasury. Close to the exit
is the inscription that mentions the Roman proconsul Gallio. The
reference to proconsul Gallio in the inscription provides an important
marker for developing a chronology of the life of Apostle Paul by
relating it to the trial of Paul in Achaea mentioned in the Acts of the
Apostles (18:12-17). Dinner and
overnight in Athens.
DAY 6:
Visit Corinth / Kechries
After breakfast, we will go to ancient Corinth (Acts 18: 1-18). It was in ancient Corinth where Paul came and worked, established a prosperous church, and wrote two epistles, which are now part of the New Testament.We will see all the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the headquarters of Bema and Gallio, the pillars, the stairs and the public place of worship where Paul preached.
All these visits will certainly enhance the understanding of Corinthians I and II.Before ending the visit and returning to Athens, we will pass by the ancient Greek port of Kechries (Acts 18:18) where Paul was on his second missionary journey and the ruins of the 5th century basilica, at the beginning of the Christianity.Stop at the Corinth Canal and drive to Athens.
Dinner and night at Athens.
DAY 7:
Visit the city of Athens
After breakfast, we will take a city tour to explore the city of Athens, including the Agora of Athens (Acts 17: 16-34).Athens is one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of Western civilization as we know it today.We will visit the main points of interest of the city: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Mars Hill (Areopagus) where Paul preached the truth to the Gentile nation, the Acropolis Museum.
DAY 8:
Athens Airport
Depending on the schedule of your return flight, you will be driven to Athens Airport, leaving wonderful memories of your trip in Paul's footsteps.
