Travel and sail with fellow pilgrims as you retrace the missionary journeys of St. Paul the Apostle! This land and cruise pilgrimage to mainland Greece, the Greek Isles, and Turkey visits significant New Testament sites and magnificent Mediterranean landmarks. Scripture will take on new meaning as you visit the ancient communities where St. Paul preached and established churches - and to whom he wrote his epistles, including the Thessalonians, Philippians, Corinthians, and Ephesians. Enjoy a beautiful three-night Aegean Sea cruise that will include visits to Patmos, Ephesus, Mykonos, and Santorini. Then, finish with Istanbul, the largest city and principal seaport of Turkey, historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople. Experience an incredible journey enriched by daily Holy Mass, the companionship of fellow Catholics, and the ease and comfort of group travel. Join today!

HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE

Athens: Acropolis, Areopagus Hill where St. Paul converted St. Dionysius

Corinth: ruins of the ancient city and sites related to St. Paul

Ephesus: house of the Virgin Mary, place where St. Paul preached against idols

Patmos: Cave and Monastery of St. John the Apostle

Crete: Palace of Knossos

Mykonos & Santorini: most popular islands on the Aegean Sea

Thessaloniki: Church of St. Demetrius, Church of St. Sophia

Kavala: where St. Paul, St. Timothy, and St. Silas landed on the coast of Thrace

Philippi: where St. Paul lived, preached, and was imprisoned

Kalambaka: Byzantine monasteries built on rock formations

ITINERARY

Day 1. Monday, October 23: Transatlantic flight

Board your transatlantic flight to Athens, Greece.

Day 2. Tuesday, October 24: Athens

Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic view of Athens before arriving at your hotel for a welcome dinner and overnight. (WD)

Day 3. Wednesday, October 25: Athens

This morning, start your sightseeing of Athens by ascending the Sacred Rock and Mars Hill to visit the Acropolis (the Upper City) complex that contains the famous Parthenon. See the Areopagus Hill, where St. Paul delivered his sermon “On the unknown God” and gained his first convert Dionysius the Areopagite, who subsequently became the patron saint of Athens. Continue for a guided tour of the extraordinary Acropolis Museum, focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Athens. You may walk through the narrow streets of the Monastiraki with its bazaar and market stalls or visit the outstanding Benaki Museum containing Greek art and crafts that span over 5,000 years, or the Byzantine Museum devoted to ecclesiastical objects from Byzantine churches. Tonight, dinner is on your own to sample one of the excellent restaurants in Athens. (BB)

Day 4. Thursday, October 26: Athens – Corinth – Athens

Today travel to ancient Corinth. Here, under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, St. Paul preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile church he founded here in 50 AD, caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where St. Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of first-century shops, the agora where St. Paul was on trial at the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo, and visit the museum filled with treasures from the ancient sites. Return to Athens to enjoy free time and an independent dinner. (BB)

Day 5, 6, 7. Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Three-night Cruise: October 27, 28 & 29: Piraeus – Mykonos – Kusadasi – Patmos – Heraklion – Santorini – Piraeus

Begin your beautiful three-night cruise. Mykonos is the most famous island in the Aegean Sea and the most popular destination in Greece. Sparkling white with a blue Aegean backdrop, the island’s architecture is one of a kind. Stroll through a maze of white-washed alleyways, admire elegant villas, and savor the exquisite Mediterranean cuisine. Mykonos’ other main attraction is its windmills, which stand facing the sea and at night are beautifully lit up. Next stop is Kusadasi to visit the famous archaeological site of nearby Ephesus, where St. Paul preached against the idols. Ephesus is the most significant monument of antiquity, boasting the largest Greek Roman excavations in the Mediterranean. There, visit also the house where the Virgin Mary lived with St. John the Apostle. On the island of Patmos, visit the monastery and cave where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. Next, visit Heraklion, the capital of the Greek island of Crete, known for the Palace of Knossos, just outside the city. The huge archaeological site dates back thousands of years to the Minoan civilization and includes frescoes and baths. Finally, sail to Santorini with its beautiful beaches, spectacular scenery, ancient cities, amazing restaurants, some of the world’s best wine, and an active volcano. Time to explore the island on your own before returning to the ship. (BB, L, D)

Day 8. Monday, October 30: Piraeus – Thessaloniki

After disembarking, travel to Thessaloniki, the second largest city of Greece. It features the richest collection of Byzantine churches in Greece. Your sightseeing includes a visit to the Church of Agios Demetrios, the largest church in Greece. It marks the site of martyrdom and tomb of St. Demetrius, patron saint of Thessaloniki. Next, visit Agia Sophia. This church contains many mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Pass through the Galerius Arch and the White Tower, remains of the Roman period ruins, which recall the presence of St. Paul. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. (BB, D)

Day 9. Tuesday, October 31: Thessaloniki: Excursion to Kavala and Philippi

Your excursion today will take you to Kavala (ancient Neapolis), where St. Paul, St. Timothy, and St. Silas landed on the coast of Thrace. From there, visit Philippi, where St. Paul lived, preached, and was imprisoned, and the Baptistery of Lydia, where the first baptism on European soil took place. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. (BB, D)

Day 10. Wednesday, November 1: Thessaloniki – Veria – Vergina – Kalambaka

Journey west to Veria to view the memorial to St. Paul. Nearby visit Vergina and the famous Museum of Royal Tombs, housing the tombs of the Macedonian Dynasty. Continue to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)

Day 11. Thursday, November 2: Kalambaka – Athens

Visit the beautiful and strange geographical formation of Meteora, formed by hanging rocks on top of which several Byzantine monasteries were built between the 9th and 12th centuries. Visit two of those monasteries, which still reflect the real monastic life of the Middle Ages. In the afternoon, transfer to Athens. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with your travel companions. (BB, FD)

Day 12. Friday, November 3: Homebound flight

Transfer to Athens airport for your flight back to the USA.

Buffet Breakfast (BB); Lunch (L); Dinner (D); Welcome Dinner (WD); Farewell Dinner (FD)

* In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.

CHAPLAIN

Rev. Father Philip S. Gillespie is pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Anderson, South Carolina and Chaplain for Family Honor, Inc.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

The group air reservation is out of Atlanta (ATL) with British Airways. The current group air schedule follows and is subject to change. Please do not purchase any air tickets to connect with the flight schedule until we confirm the group is formed. We will notify pilgrims when the time is proper.

British Airways Flight 226 23OCT Atlanta (ATL)-London (LHR) 10:25PM-11:35AM 24OCT

British Airways Flight 632 24OCT London (LHR)-Athens (ATH) 1:25PM-7:10PM

British Airways Flight 637 03NOV Athens (ATH)-London (LHR) 9:40AM-11:55AM

British Airways Flight 227 03NOV London (LHR)-Atlanta (ATL) 3:05PM-8:40PM

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations for this pilgrimage are in first-class hotels and in a cruise line ship Celestyal Olimpia.

Athens: Athens Key Hotel 4-star or similar. www.athenskeyhotel.com
Thessaloniki: Lazart Hotel 4-star or similar. www.lazarthotel.com
Kalambaka: Amalia Holtel or similar. www.amaliahotelkalambaka.gr
Celestyal Cruises. https://celestyal.com/us/

Rooms in double occupancy are for two people to share; they have two twin beds or one double bed. Rooms in single occupancy have a single bed and are for one person to occupy; a “single supplement fee” is added for single occupancy rooms.

The three-night cruise aboard the MS Celestyal Olympia will include all onboard meals, an onboard all-inclusive drink package, listed sightseeing, gratuities for the ship personnel, and port taxes. Inside cabins have no window; outside cabins have a porthole window.

Trip Booklet

TRIP PACE

The pace for this pilgrimage is moderate. There is daily walking and standing. Pilgrims must be in active enough condition to walk 3-4 hours and stand for 2-3 hours per day. We strongly recommend preparing oneself by walking before the trip, building up to at least 2-3 miles per day.

Sometimes walking is up or down slopes, and at times sidewalks and terrain will be uneven. Pilgrims must have full mobility and be able to climb several stairs, since many of the visited places have no other access. A certain pace must be kept by all pilgrims in order to cover the scheduled sightseeing.

Also see the “PHYSICAL HEALTH & FITNESS” section in the General Terms & Conditions. (Specific Terms & Conditions for this trip will be listed in the online registration form.)

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Roundtrip transatlantic flights from Atlanta (ATL) to Athens (ATH)
Accommodations in first-class hotels, with daily buffet breakfast and dinners according to the program
3-night cruise on the MS Celestyal Olympia, including all onboard meals, onboard all-inclusive drink package, gratuities for the ship personnel, and port taxes
Daily Holy Mass
Private motor-coach services for transfers and sightseeing
Services of a professional English-speaking tour escort during the entire trip
Admission fees for all included sightseeing
Porterage for one suitcase per person at the hotels
Government taxes and fees

What’s not included:

Travel insurance
Gratuities to tour escort, long-distance motor-coach driver, and church stipends
Also see the “Not Included” section under this trip’s Terms & Conditions, in the Trip Brochure.

PRICING INFORMATION

Pilgrimage price per person including roundtrip air from Atlanta (ATL), including estimated air taxes & surcharges of $656 as of Feb. 2023, subject to change:
- Inside cabin (no window):
  - $4,550 pp in double occupancy
  - $5,545 pp in single occupancy
- Outside cabin (porthole window):
  - $4,790 pp in double occupancy
  - $5,845 pp in single occupancy
Land-only price: Deduct $1,245 from the above prices
Non-refundable deposit of $500 pp is due by: July 3, 2023
Balance due by: July 31, 2023

Important notes: Some destinations fill quickly before the listed final registration deadline. We recommend that you promptly register in order to ensure your place in line. Before the registration deadline, you may cancel within 15 days of your initial deposit for a full refund. Copies of passports are required no more than 60 days before departure but registration can be completed without passport information.

REGISTER ONLINE

TRAVEL INSURANCE

TERMS/CONDITIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS