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| Day 1 |
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DEPART USA
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Fly from the U.S. to Athens, Greece.
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| Day 2 |
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ARRIVE ATHENS
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Arrive in Athens and transfer to the Athens Plaza Hotel for two nights.
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| Day 3 |
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ATHENS * ACROPOLIS * PANTHEON
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Enjoy a tour of the Acropolis and the majestic ruins of the Parthenon, one of the most perfect structures in the world. Also visit the Hill of the Aeropagus, where in A.D. 51, Paul disputed with the philosophers of Athens and preached his sermon on “the Unknown God,” which converted the senator Dionysos. After lunch, tour the Agora, the center of ancient Athens known to Solon, Pericles and Socrates as well as to St. Paul.
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| Day 4 |
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ATHENS * CORINTH * PIRAEUS
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Depart for Corinth, where St. Paul worked as a tentmaker for 18 months between A.D. 51 and 52, attempting to reform the wealthy Roman citizenry. Visit the many monuments that Paul saw while he lived in Corinth, including the Doric Temple of Apollo and the Theater. Transfer to Piraeus and embark on Corinthian II.
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| Day 5 |
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HERAKLION * KNOSSOS * GORTYN
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Take an excursion to one of the finest achievements of the Minoan civilization, the partially reconstructed Palace at Knossos. The palace contains an underground labyrinth, legendary domain of the Minotaur. Knossos’ corridors, stairways and chambers are decorated with frescoes illustrating life as it was 4,000 years ago. Continue to the archaeological site at Gortyn, the Roman capital of Crete, where the Gortyn Law Code was written. St. Paul came to Crete with his disciple Titus, to whom he addressed an Epistle.
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| Day 6 |
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RHODES * LINDOS
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Explore the city of Rhodes, a stopover for St. Paul on his way to Rome and the 14th-century outpost of the Crusader Knights of St. John. Visit the Street of the Knights; the Palace of the Grand Master; and the Archaeological Museum. In the afternoon travel to Lindos, where St. Paul is said to have escaped a storm at sea. Set high above the village are the remains of the Acropolis and the Doric columns of Athena’s Temple.
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| Day 7 |
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KUSADASI, TURKEY * EPHESUS
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From Kusadasi, visit Ephesus, one of the most important sites in the history of the ancient world and in the life of St. Paul. Visit the theater where the Ephesians rioted against St. Paul; the Library of Celsus with its imposing facade; and the Temple of Serapis. Return to Kusadasi and enjoy the afternoon at leisure or join an excursion to Miletus, a stop on St. Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem. Visit the great Roman theater, built to accommodate 15,000 spectators.
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| Day 8 |
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MYTILINI, LESVOS
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Arrive in Mytilini, where, according to tradition, Paul landed in A.D. 60 en route to Rome. Explore the town, which is crowned by a Byzantine-Genoese fortress, and visit the interesting Archaeological Museum.
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| Day 9 |
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THESSALONIKI
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Arrive in Thessaloniki, the biblical Thessalonica. Founded in 316 B.C., the city was visited by St. Paul in 49 - 50 A.D. and again in 56 A.D. His two letters to the church that he founded are known as the “Epistles to the Thessalonians.” Tour Thessaloniki’s principal monuments, including the Arch of Galerius; the Roman Rotunda, now the Church of St. George; the 8th-century Church of St. Sophia; and the 5th-century basilica of St. Dimitrios. Also, visit the Archaeological Museum.
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| Day 10 |
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KAVALLA * PHILIPPI
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Call at Kavalla, where in A.D. 49 Paul addressed his Epistle to the Philippian Christians. Then continue to the town of Philippi, Paul’s first major destination in Macedonia. The congregation he established here proved extremely successful, even though the Roman townspeople beat and imprisoned him. Visit the town’s extensive ruins, largely Roman or early Christian in design; the Acropolis; the theater; and two Byzantine basilicas.
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| Day 11 |
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ISTANBUL * DISEMBARK
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Disembark in Istanbul and transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
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