Greece Tours, Pilgrimage Tours
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF APOSTLE PAUL IN GREECE
THE ROUTE APOSTLE PAUL FOLLOWED IN GREECE AND ATHOS HOLLY MOUNTAIN
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF APOSTOLE PAUL IN GREECE AND AGIO OROS
One of the most remarkable religious routes in Greece is “The Route that Apostle Paul Followed in Greece”. He spread the word of Christianity more than anybody else and for this reason he was named “Apostle of the Nations”. The route that Apostle Paul followed in Greece passes through all places where the Apostle preached and constitutes Philippi, where Lydia was the first to be baptized, Thessaloniki, Veria, Athens, Corinth. This tour is an ideal combination of pilgrimage and sightseeing in some of the most beautiful places in Greece. In this program we combine steps of Apostle Paul in Greece with a daily tour to mount Athos, the holly mountain.
TOUR DETAILS
Tour Code: PILG_07stP
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Season: All the year round
Location: Greece, The Route that Apostle Paul Followed in Greece
Style: Bus tour – Religious – History – Photography
HIGHLIGHTS
The Route that Apostle Paul followed in Greece
- Philippi, Paul prison and the Lydia Baptismal
- Thessaloniki, Agora where Paul preached
- Veria, the Vima and the memorial commemorating Paul’s preaching to local Jews
- Athens “Areopag” where Paul stood and preached to the Athenians.
- Ancient Corinth where Paul worked, old market and Bemma
The historical places of:
- Vergina, the tomb of King Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great
- Delphi, the ancient most important religious center and the oracle
- Meteora, the rock monasteries
- Optional Acropolis, the birth place of democracy, the place any civilized person has to visit.
INCLUDED
- Transportation with luxury car or minivan / bus
- Experienced En speaking driver
- Hotels 3*, 4*, 5*
- Meals Half board (B,_,D)
- Entrance fees to archeological sites and museums
- Official En speaking local guides
- Meet & Greet on the arrival at the airport
NOT INCLUDED
- Flight ticket (Domestic flight tickets upon request)
- Accommodation tax in Greece (0.5€ per day per room for guesthouses -1.5€ per day per room for 3* hotels – 3€ per day per room for 4* hotels – 4€ per day per room for 5* hotels) paid directly by the clients to hotel.
*All packages are flexible and dynamic for any changes according to any personal needs and desires upon request.
Conduct us for more available packages in the area.
Day 1: THESSALONIKI ARRIVAL (_,_,D)
Arrival at Thessaloniki airport. Meet our staff at the airport, welcome. Transfer to your hotel in Thessaloniki. Rest of day free to walk around in the beautiful city. In the evening dinner at a local tavern
Day 2: ATHOS MOUNTAIN EXCURSION (B,_,D)
After breakfast drive to Ouranoupoli. Board on boat for the enchanting cruise around Mount Athos. Mt. Athos is an independent monastic state with a history of more than 1.100 years old and nowadays consists of 20 monasteries. We’ll see eight of them in short distance from the boat. Lastly, we’ll see the skete of Agia Anna. Then we visit the small island of Ammouliani, where we have free time to enjoy swimming in the emerald sea and taste the traditional dishes. Return in the afternoon to Ouranoupoli and drive back to Thessaloniki. Dinner at the hotel or a local tavern.
Day 3: THESSALONIKI – PHILIPPI – KAVALA -THESSALONIKI (B,_,D)
After breakfast drive to Kavala and then to Philippi. Kavala (Neapolis) was the port of Philippi. Paul passed through with Silas on his way from Asia Minor to Philippi. The city was visited by the Apostle Paul. From the Acts of the Apostles and the letter to the Philippians, early Christians concluded that Paul had founded their community. We will explore the ruins of the ancient sites with Forum, the Ancient Market, the Basilica and Theatre. In Philippi preached Paul his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christian in Europe. You will see the “Baptismal” site where Lydia was baptized as the first European woman and the crypt where Paul was imprisoned. To end the day, we will travel back to your hotel in Thessaloniki for dinner in a selected tavern at Ladadika. Overnight: Thessaloniki.
OPTIONAL Greek night – Dinner in a tavern at Ladadika with bouzouki music.
Day 4: THESSALONIKI TOUR – VERIA – VERGINA – METEORA (B,_,D)
After breakfast, we will explore Thessaloniki, where Paul preached and wrote two epistles to the Ancient Thessalonians. We’ll see the triumphal Arch of Galerius, built in 303 AD, the Rotunda, one of the most imposing monuments of Thessaloniki, the white Tower, Visit St. Demetrius Basilica, in which is located the underground ancient “Crypt”. We will visit the Vlatades Monastery, where it is said that Apostle Paul stopped there to drink water from a spring in those days. Paul and Sylas left Thessaloniki night because of riots created by his opponents and arrived to Veria. In Veria we will see the church of Apostle Paul and the “Vima of Apostle Paul” mural made of marble. This church is believed to be the location that Paul preached to the people from one of his beloved towns for many days. Then we will progress onwards to the ancient town of Vergina and to the King Philip tomb, Alexander’s the Great’s father. We continue to Meteora. Overnight at Kalambaka. Dinner at a local tavern with monasteries view.
Day 5: METEORA MONASTERIES – DELPHI – ATHENS (B,_,D)
Morning short drive to Meteora monasteries, standing at top of huge rocks and containing historical and religious treasures. We’ll visit the breathtaking rock tower monasteries of the 13 -16 th century! The Great Meteoron Monastery founded in 13 century, the Varlaam was founded in the 16th century and is located on the top of a rock at 380 meters high! and the Monastery of Saint Stephen, where we will admire a small treasure of Byzantine and Christian items at the museum inside the monastery. Then drive south to Delphi, the hometown of the famous oracle. In antiquity times, Delphi was one of the most important religious centers. The city was built above the River Pleistos gorge against the backdrop of Mount Parnassus, attracting hordes of pilgrims who came to consult the oracle of Delphi. Our tour through Delphi will take us to the agora, or market place, the first stop along the Sacred Way, the main road that winds through the lavish complex of ancient ruins at Delphi. Along this path, we see the remains of the “treasuries” of the Athenians, a bouleuterion, the Tripod of Plataea, the Temple of Apollo, famous for its oracle, the stadium and the museum with its amazing spectacular exhibits. We continue with a short stop at traditional village of Arachova and we arrive to Athens for overnight. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 6: ATHENS – ANCIENT CORINTH (B,_,D)
We will start our day with a fresh Greek breakfast and continue our journey by following the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, starting at the Coast of Faliro where Paul first arrived in Athens by ship, then we will visit the biggest churches in Athens of St. Paul, and next on to the Acropolis “Areopag” where Paul stood and preached to the Athenians. Then drive to Corinth, one of Paul’s most beloved cities, the town that inspired many of Paul’s letters. As we keep following his steps, we will arrive at the Cathedral of St. Paul, wander the nearby market and walk the same paths that the Apostle of Nations walked and preached hundreds of years earlier. Our final stop will be a view of the Corinth Canal and then we return-back to Athens. Dinner at a tavern at Plaka, Athens old city, with Greek dishes. Optional with Greek bouzouki music and dances.
Day 7: ATHENS – DEPARTURE B,_,_)
Depending on your departure time, OPTIONAL guided visit to Acropolis OR walk to Ermou st with its fascinating small shops for last minute shopping. Explore underground at the metro stations where you’ll see parts of ancient Athens. Stroll in the narrow and cobbled streets of Plaka and have a coffee at a small cafe, Agora, Psiri, Monastiraki flea market. Then transfer to Athens airport for your flight back home.