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

Day 2:  ATHENS. Upon arrival in Athens, we are met by our guide and bus driver. Transfer to our hotel with the rest of the day al leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3:  PIRAEUS.  Transfer to 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.  DON’T FORGET TO VISIT THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL AT “LITTLE VENICE”.

Day 4:  RHODES.  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. An optional tour takes us to Lindos.  This entire city is guarded by medieval walls which were constructed by the Knights of St. John in the 14th century.  Within, stands the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, 400 feet above the sea. From the Acropolis a breathtaking view covering the great expanse of the Aegean Sea and St. Paul's Bay, where the Apostle cast harbor during his historic voyage to Ephessos.

Day 5:  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)

Continue to Kusadasi, a lively Turkish port and gateway to ancient Ephessos. An optional tour takes us to visit Ancient Ephessos, the Greek colony founded by the Athenians.  Here history truly comes to life; walking towards the ancient harbor down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots.  We pass architectural masterpieces like the Magnesian Gate and the Library of Celsus before arriving to the Great Amphitheater where Paul spoke to the Ephesians.  WE ALSO VISIT THE HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY – THE HOUSE WHERE THE  MOTHER OF JESUS SPENT HER LAST DAYS. ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO CELEBRATE PRIVATE MASS.  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.  An optional tour takes us up to the monastery of St. John which still keeps its character of a medieval fortress.  Inside the walls, we are able to admire the Byzantine wealth of the Christian Orthodox religion while from its ramparts we have the most stunning panoramic view of the luminous sea.

Day 6:  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 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; we see the ruins of the Parthenon, the Erectheum and the Propylae. Thereafter, we view 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; 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 VISIT THE IMPRESSIVE ST DENIS CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL WHERE WE MAY 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 7:  ATHENS - METEORES - THESSALONIKI.  This morning we 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.  Apart from portable icons, miniatures, ecclesiastical robes, utensils and crosses, all of them excellent examples of Byzantine art, the Meteora Monasteries also contain rare editions and manuscripts.  Overnight in Thessaloniki.

Day 8: THESSALONIKI - PHILIPPI.

“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)

We become acquainted with this great city, the “Queen of the North”, where Paul wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians.  Built by King Cassandros and named after the sister of Alexander the Great, the city flourished under the Byzantine Empire and it’s most important buildings date from those days. Today it is considered the second capital of Greece, the Queen of the north.  Our city tour takes us along the water front to the massive White Tower and nearby Triumphal Arch of Gallerius, built in 303 AD.  We also see St. Demetrios Church with its valuable mosaics and frescoes and drive up to the upper town which offers a marvelous view of the city.  The site where the monastery of Vlatadon was built is believed to be the location where Jason’s house once stood and where Paul was accommodated during his visit to Thessaloniki.

“Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a direct 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, the market place (where Paul and Silas were brought before the rulers), the cistern which tradition identifies as the place where St. Paul were imprisoned. CELEBRATE MASS TODAY AT THE LYDIA’S SPRING.  We return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: THESSALONIKI - VERIA - ATHENS.

“The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.”   (Acts 17:10-14)

After breakfast, we start out for Veria (Beroea) where we visit the monument dedicated to Paul; we see the Bema where he stood and preached to the people of Veria.  Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 10:  ATHENS - USA.  Transfer to the airport for our flight home, the end of a marvelous tour.