Greece with 3 night Cruise: In the Footsteps of St. Paul

Phillippi, Kavala, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Kalambaka, Delphi, Athens, Corinth, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi , Patmos & Ephesus

 

June 25-July 5, 2010  

 

Air from Toronto, Canada: USD $4,149 per person

(based on double occupancy not including airport taxes)

 

Spiritual Director: Fr. Martin Nyland

 

 

 

Philippi, Thessaloniki, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus & "The Revelation Alive" (Patmos)

 

The important role that Greece has played in history is widely known; philosophy, the arts, medicine, democracy. But there is also a great page in the history of Christianity: early days of Christianity and the ministry of the Apostle Paul! This amazing man, moved by the Holy Spirit preached "good news" to Jews and Gentiles. Traveling along the major trade routes of the Roman empire and visiting large thriving communities of Asia Minor and Greece his mission was accomplished; Christianity became the biggest religion in the world. Our tours are not just tours; they are an inspiring journey to the actual places where the Apostle Paul lived and preached God's word. Travel with our bible-oriented guides down timeless roads; take time to pray and rejoice in the ancient biblical sites; visit thousand-year-old Churches and temples; and encounter a unique spiritual experience that will help you to better understand "The Steps of Paul" selecting bible-oriented guides, incorporating lectures and providing printed material, for people to achieve a deeper understanding of the Apostle Paul and his work.


YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:

 Round-trip air from Toronto (Canada) to Greece  

Airline FUEL SURCHARGES INCLUDED (approx. USD $260)

 9  nights centrally located accommodations as follows: (or similar)

      June 26-28     / ~ 2 nights:   Hotel Capsis, Thessaloniki

      June 28-29     / ~ 1 night:     Hotel Divani, Meteora

      June 29-30     / ~ 1 night:     Hotel Olympic, Delphi

      June 30-July 2/ ~ 2 nights:    Hotel Divani Palace, Athens
      July 2-5         / ~ 3 nights:    Cruise on
Cruise Celestyal Cruise Lines (outside cabin)

 Breakfast and Dinner daily at your hotels. (all meals while on cruise)
 Sightseeing, Tour Escort (land tour), local guides and entrance fees as per itinerary
 Port taxes & fees

Shore excursions while on ship included:
          ~ Mykonos – Walking tour
          ~ Kusadasi – Ephesus & the house of the Virgin Mary
          ~ Patmos - Monastery of St. John & Grotto of Apocalypse
          ~ Heraklion – A taste of Crete
          ~ Santorini – Thira & Oia Village

Catholic Priest and Mass Daily
Transfers by Deluxe motor coach
 Luggage Handling

 
Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents


Not Included: Airport taxes (approx. USD $135 ), Lunches, Travel Insurance optional at USD $189-$229 (www.206tours.com/insurance), Cancel for Any Reason Protection @ USD  $199 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection), Tips to your guide & driver (USD $ 7-9 per day). Items of a personal nature.


 

Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:

 

 

Day 1/ June 25  - Depart Toronto to Greece

Evening departure from your home town, for the overnight flight to Greece. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.

 

 

Day 2/ June 26  - Arrive Thessaloniki, Greece     

Connect flight to Thessaloniki. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Time to relax, meet your fellow pilgrims, dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

 

 

Day 3/ June 27  - Phillippi, Kavala, Thessaloniki     

Visit Philippi 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 16:12-18  Here Paul baptized a certain woman named Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe. The Roman forum, completely excavated, is from after Paul's time. Among the ruins, located on the rocky ledge above the town's main road is the prison where Paul and Silas were thrown. Continue into the modern port city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis, where Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy, first set foot in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

 

 

Day 4/ June 28  - Thessaloniki, Meteora     

Thessaloniki city-tour. Paul preached in Thessaloniki during the winters of 49-50 AD and wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. See the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting at the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire. Depart for Kalambaka, Meteora Monasteries. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.

 

 

Day 5/ June 29 - Kalambaka - Delphi      

Visit Meteora Monasteries. Among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks, that seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless monasteries where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Continue to Delphi.

 

 

Day 6/ June 30  - Delphi - Athens     

Visit Delphi, the center of the ancient world (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 Sanctuary of Apollo Phthios. Visit the site and the museum and continue 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 also 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 and overnight at our hotel. 

 

Day 7/ July 1  - Athens - Excursion to Corinth    

We will visit the Acropolis to see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erectheum and Propylae. For twenty five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis; we see the ruins of the Parthenon, the Erectheum and the Propylae. Afterwards, 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; former center of the Athenian public life. We continue for a drive through the city to see the House of Parliament on Syntagma Square, the evzones in their picturesque uniforms guarding the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also see the Library, the University, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympics of the modern era were held, the temple of the Olympian Zeus and Adrian’s Arch.  This afternoon we continue our tour to Ancient Corinth. Here, under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, St. Paul preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write, at least, four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of the first century shops, the agora where Paul's trial by Gallio took place, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo and the Bema. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.

 

 

Day 8/ July 2  - Athens - Start 3-day Cruise (Louis Cruises ) Mykonos
Our first port-of-call is Mykonos. It is the most cosmopolitan of all Greek islands and attracts many visitors from all over the globe, including large numbers of artists and intellectuals. Your coaches will take you to Hora the island's capital where you'll enjoy a walking tour in the narrow cobbled streets of the town, passing by chic boutiques, elegant nightclubs and white washed houses till reaching Alefkandra. Alefkandra is a charming corner of Hora, known also as the "Venice" of Mykonos. The houses are built on the sea, with wooden balconies that evoke Venice. These were built from the mid 18th century onward and were homes of wealthy merchants and captains. At one of the famous restaurants of Alefkandra you'll enjoy the sunset on Mykonos island while drinking your refreshment accompanied by Greek meze. You'll return then to Mykonos Town (Hora) from where you'll take the ship's shuttle service back to the port to meet your ship!

Day 9/ July 3 - Kusadasi & Ephesus (Mary's House) & Patmos
We begin our day arriving at Kusadasi is a lively Turkish port. Drive through the colourful town of Kusadasi to reach Mt. Koressos. Situated in a small valley, it is here where you will visit the humble Chapel which lies on the site of the little house where The Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. Despite the many controversies, the Christian World still favours this belief and the site has been officially sanctioned by the Vatican for pilgrimage. Continue on to Ancient Ephesus and accompanied by your guide, walk through the Magnesian Gate which is the entrance to the ancient city of Ephesus. Your guided walking tour will take you through one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. See the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the Library of Celsus and The Great Theatre, where St. Paul preached, which is the largest theatre in antiquity having a capacity of 24,000 people. Walk back to your motor coach along the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. While driving back to Kusadasi and just outside Ephesus, view the Basilica of St. John, which was erected over his grave in the 6th Century AD by the Emperor Justinian. Before returning to the ship, enjoy free time in Kusadasi.
Continue our journey, Patmos, where we will enjoy a short journey to the village of Chora, where the monastery of St. John is built within the walls of a strong fortification. As you walk uphill towards the entrance of the monastery marvel at this magnificent structure, which was build 900 years ago, exceptional in its architecture. View the courtyard, the monk's dining room and the old bakery before you visit the main Church noting its outstanding frescoes and interior decoration. Next, see the priceless ecclesiastical treasures housed in the beautiful but small museum: books and manuscripts, mosaics, Icons, splendid medieval textiles and vestments as well as jewelry. Return to your motorcoach to continue on to the nearby Grotto of the Apocalypse, where above stands the Monastery of the Apocalypse, a sub-unit of the main monastery. Walk down the steps to visit the Grotto of the Apocalypse. Here you will see the silver niches in the wall that mark the pillow and ledge used as a desk by the author of the Book of the Revelation as well as the three-fold crack made by the voice of God emphasizing the honor of the Holy Trinity. Afterwards, drive back to the port of Scala and enjoy some free time in this quaint and picturesque harbor.

Day 10/ July 4 – Heraklion and Santorini
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 . Santorin 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 by cable-car or mule. Return back to the ship.

 

 

Day 11/ July 5 - Piraeus - Athens - USA
Today marks the end of our cruise. After disembarkation you will be transferred to Athens airport.
 

 

For Additional Information & Travel Tips Please Visit:

What to Know Before You Go to Greece


Any questions?      Call Rinda @ (800) -206-TOUR  - or -    [email protected]


2010 Departure Dates & Prices

 Celebrating Our 25th Anniversary

 

Jun

25 - Jul 05

 

$4,149

 

Upgrade to Business Class: $1,450 one way

Single Supplement / Private Room

 

$899

 

 

 

Delphi, Greece

 

 

Church on the Sea in Greece

 

 

 Village in Meteora, Greece

 

 

 

 

The Pantheon in Greece
 

 

 

 

 

Ancient City of Corinth

 

 

Meteora

 

 

Side Street in Mykonos

 

 


 

 

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