Day 2 • Athens
Day 5 • Philippi
Day 8 • Rhodes
Day 1 • Departure from the USA
Today we begin our great adventure as we board our plane for our overnight flight over the Atlantic. Dinner is served on board.
Day 2 • Athens, Greece
After a plane change in Europe, we arrive in Athens, the “cradle of civilization.” We are met and assisted by courteous representatives of Signature Tours. On the way to our hotel, we see the agora and the amazing Acropolis with Its Parthenon. Dinner and overnight are in Athens.
Day 3 • Athens/Thebes/Delphi
This morning, we drive to Thebes, following the old Sacred Way through villages where St. Paul ministered and founded churches. Delphi, the idyllic sanctuary of ancient times, often called “Navel of the World, “ is our destination. Our sightseeing includes the Temple of Apollo, the Castalia Spring, the Athenian Treasure, the Theatre, the Museum and more. We have dinner and stay the night in Delphi.
Day 4 • Salonika
Day 4 • Delphi/Berea/Salonika (Thessalonica)
Today we proceed northward to Berea, following the steps of St. Paul on his 3rd missionary journey. Here, while Paul preached, he was expelled and set sail for Athens. We stay overnight at a hotel in the important city of Thessalonica, remembering Paul’s love for brethren there, expressed in his two Epistles to them.
Day 5 • Salonika/Philippi
After viewing Galerius’ triumphal arch, the Roman palace, and the Aristotelian University in this important seaport, we proceed to Philippi, where Paul came as a result of a visionary call to Europe. Paul and Silas were imprisoned here, and the letter to the Philippians was written here. We see the ruins of the prison and the site of Lydia’s baptism. Before returning to our hotel, a model of Greek hospitality, we visit Mount Mortiatis for a panoramic view of Salonika.
Day 6 • Salonika/Pella/Athens
After a leisurely breakfast and time to explore the city, we drive to Pella, the capital of ancient Macedonia and the birthplace of Alexander the Great. We trace 2,500 years of history as we return to Athens via the valley of Tempi and Thermopylae, where the Greeks decisively battled the Persian Army of Cyrus the Great. We have dinner and stay the night in Athens.
Day 7 • Mykonos
Day 7 • Athens/Greek Isle Cruise: Piraeus, Mykonos
Transferring to the port city of Piraeus, we embark on our cruise. We first sail to Mykonos, a vibrant island with a colorful harbor, all-white houses and windmills silhouetted against the blue sky. Shop here for fine woolens or jewelry, stroll down the narrow streets and pathways, or taste a delicious crepe.
Day 8 • Cruise: Rhodes
We glide early into the harbor of Rhodes, which in ancient times was straddled by the famed Colossus. One of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the world, this mammoth monument was completed circa 300 B.C. and later destroyed by the Saracens. The island reflects influences of Roman, Saracen, Turkish, and Medieval cultures. The old city, build by Crusader Knights of the Order of St. John, remains virtually unchanged, and the landscape is interspersed with remnants of ancient settlements, including Lindos and Kameiros.
Day 9 • Kusadasi
Day 9 • Cruise: Kusadasi/Ephesus/Patmos
Today we dock in Kusadasi. After a short ride, we arrive at the ruins of Ephesus. It was once known as one of the richest cities in Asia Minor, a popular Roman resort, and a center of trade, commerce, culture and religion. Paul spent three years wandering its marble streets. Here, we see the giant theatre where the riot of the silversmiths occurred, the great Temple of Diana of Ephesians and more. We then stop at Patmos, where St. John received his vision of the Apocalypse. Time permitting, you may visit the mile high Monastery (circa 11th century) to see the treasury of Byzantine art and religious artifacts.
Day 10 • Piraeus/Athens/Corinth/Mycenae/Athens
Bidding farewell to our luxurious cruise ship, we dock at Piraeus harbor outside of Athens. We drive to Corinth where we see the actual judgment seat where Paul testified to the proconsul, Gallio. We explore this ancient city, dominated by the mountain, which is crowned by the temple dedicated to the goddess of love. We move on to Mycenae to see the tombs of King Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and the sanctuary dedicated to the god Asklepelos with the open air theater at Epidauros, one of the best preserved in Greece. Returning to Athens for the night, we stop at the Corinthian Canal, the engineering marvel hewn out of solid rock and linking two seas.
Day 11 • Athens/Hometown, U.S.A.
As we board our plane for the flight back to the U.S., we are filled with memories of the sights and inspirations of these past days to be remembered for the rest of our lives.