On The Steps of St Paul, 6 days

Thessaloniki – Arrive at SKG Airport

The trip will start with your arrival at Thessaloniki airport where we will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki/ Philippi / Kavala / Thessaloniki

Breakfast and a 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 in the winter of AD 49 to AD 50. There the first Christian baptism was performed, by 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 first visit Lydia’s House to see the Church and outdoor have a devotion service. Then we drive a few moments to visit the Roman Theatre, the probable site of the prison where Paul and Silas were arrested and the Museum. We will then continue towards the city of Kavala, which is the ancient city of Neapolis (Acts 16:11) where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Later it was 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. Now we head back to Thessaloniki for Dinner and overnight.

Thessaloniki city tour / Veria / Vergina / Kalambaka

After breakfast, the trip continues with us exploring the city of Thessaloniki, where Paul preached the gospel in the second and third missionary journeys. For the early Christians of this city, he wrote the epistles “To the Thessalonians.”. We will visit the Cathedral of St. Demetrius, considered the Protector Saint of the city by Greek Orthodox, then the Agora, the White Tower, and the Byzantine fortress of the city. Along our travels, we will see the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting at the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire. Our next stop will be Berea, another town evangelized by Paul (Acts 17: 10-14). When 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. Afterwards, we depart for Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

Meteora

After breakfast, the trip continues with a visit to 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 then visit a second monastery, enjoying wonderful views. We will then head directly to Athens and our hotel, stopping along the way for a break.

Athens City Tour

After breakfast, we will go on a city tour to explore the city of Athens. We will begin by visiting one of the top five museums in the world, the Acropolis Museum. We will then visit sites including the Agora of Athens (Acts 17:16-34). We will then visit sites 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 also visit the main points of interest in the city: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Mars Hill (Areopagus) where Paul preached the truth to the Gentile Nation.  There may be some free time in the late afternoon and of course, the evening to enjoy Athens. Overnight in Athens.

Tour of Corinth 

This morning we will head toward ancient Corinth (Acts 18.1-18). In ancient Corinth, Paul came and worked, established a thriving church, and wrote two of the epistles, which are now part of the New Testament. We will see all the sites that are associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s seat, the pillars, stairs, and the place of public worship, where Paul preached. All these visits will certainly enhance the understanding of Corinthians I and II. Before ending the tour and returning to Athens, we will pass by the ancient Greek port of Cenchrea (Acts 18:18) where Paul was during his second missionary journey and the ruin of the early Christian 5th Century Basilica. Return to Athens, straight to Athens Airport to board your departure flight.