Day 1: USA - EUROPE. Tour members gather at the ticket counter at the airport two hours prior to their departure to Europe.

Day 2: THESSALONIKI.

Paul came to Thessaloniki with Silas and following his usual custom, he went to the Synagogue where he used the Jewish scriptures as the source for his preaching.  (Acts 17:2-4) 

Considered the second capital of Greece, Thessaloniki was founded in 31 BC by one of Alexander the Great's generals, Cassander, who was married to Alexander's step-sister Thessaloniki.  In her honor, he named the town built in the form of an amphitheater at the head of Thermaikos Gulf.  Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

Day 3: KAVALLA - PHILIPPI. 

"Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a great voyage to Samothrace and the following day to Neapolis”  (Acts 16:11)

“And from thence to Philippi which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony; and we were in that city abiding certain days"  (Acts 16:12)

We visit the beautiful city of Kavala (ancient Neapolis) and from there on to Philippi which was a Roman garrison town and the chief city in the province of Macedonia.  It was here that Paul won his first European convert - a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods.  Visit the Baptistery of Lydia, the market place (where Paul and Silas were brought before the rulers), the cistern which tradition identifies as the place where St. Paul was imprisoned.  Celebrate Mass today at Lydia’s Spring.  We return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: THESSALONIKI - METEORES - ATHENS.  Continue to the Meteora Monasteries - perched upon the summits of gigantic rocks, which have been etched into variety of strange shapes.  Grey gigantic stalagmites rising towards the sky, they seem to be nature's gift to the pious who opted for monasticism and for a life totally dedicated to the worship of God.  The monastic history of the Meteora goes back to the 11th century A.D. when the first hermits sought peace and solitude in the rifts and caves of these rocks.  But the first monasteries were not built until the 14th century A.D. attaining their peak in the 16th.  Of the 13 large and 20 small monasteries and hermit’s cells, only four are not occupied: Megalo Meteora, Monie Varlaam, Monia Aghias Triadas and Moni Aghiou Stefanou.  Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: ATHENS - CRUISE.  Transfer to the port and embark the cruise vessel for our 3 day cruise.  Our first port of call is the island of Myconos; cubic white houses and those world famous windmills.  Free time to explore this lovely island especially the Catholic Cathedral at “Little Venice”.

Day 6: RHODOS.  Rhodos, the island of “roses”, is the legendary home of the sun god Apollo.  The old town (which is the largest inhabited medieval town of Europe) and its mighty fortifications (built by the crusaders of St. John) are the finest surviving example of defensive architecture and is of great interest to all visitors.

Day 7: KUSADASI - PATMOS.

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples.”  (Acts 19:01)

This morning we visit Kusadasi, a lively Turkish port and gateway to ancient Ephessos for an optional tour.  We also visit the house of the Virgin Mary where she spent her last days.  We may celebrate a private Mass here.  We continue our cruise for the island of Patmos; considered a holy island for the Christian religion. It was here in Patmos where John the Divine, while in exile, wrote the Apocalyptic Revelations which constitute the last part of the new Testament.  Optional tour available.

Day 8: PIRAEUS - 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 . . .”

After we disembark from the ship, we visit Athens, one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of western civilization as we know it today.  For twenty five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis.  After we disembark the ship, we see the ruins of the Parthenon, the Erectheum and the Propylae.  Then, we ascend Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians about the one and only God. This is the same place Pope John Paul II prayed during his last visit to Athens.  From here we have an excellent view of the ancient agora - the 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 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.  We also visit the impressive St. Denis Catholic Cathedral where we celebrate Mass.

“Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city."  (Acts 18:9)

We board our coach for Corinth, taking the coastal road along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea.  Short stop for pictures and continue to the site of ancient Corinth, Paul's beloved city and site of his most extensive ministry. Dominated by the Acro-Corinth rising 1700 feet above the ruins, the marketplace is laid out exactly as it stood in the days of the great Apostle.  We see the bema (the judgment seat) where Paul stood before Galilo and preached (Acts 18).  The museum contains a superb collection of artifacts portraying life in ancient Corinth.  Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: ATHENS - USA. Today, we transfer to the airport for our flight home.  The end of an unforgettable journey.