Greece Tours, Pilgrimage Tours

GREECE TURKEY BIBLICAL TOUR

GREECE TURKEY BIBLICAL TOUR

FOLLOW THE ROUTE OF CRISTINITY IN GREECE AND TURKEY

This tour package will give you possibility to explore the most important biblical sites to the holy lands of Turkey and Greece as well as visiting all major cultural archeological and tourist significance on route. In this program we combine the Steps of Apostle Paul in Greece with a visit to Apocalypse Island of Patmos and a tour to Seven Churches of Revelation in Turkey along with sightseeing in Istanbul and Athens

On the Steps of Apostle Paul. 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.

Seven Churches of Revelation: Explore Turkey’s Seven Churches of Asia Minor, as mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation. Travel the route around the West Aegean and learn of the religious and social context of ancient biblical times

Patmos island: Worldwide known as a sacred island for it is the place where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation. According to the prevailing theory, the Book of Revelation was written in 95 A.D. in the Holy Cave of the Apolacypse, where St. John heard the voice of God talking to him. Spiritual sites in Patmos are the holy Cave and the Monastery of St. John

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Code: PILG_14GrTubibl
Duration: 14 days / 913 nights
Season: All the year round
Location: Greece and Turkey mainland. Athens and Istanbul and island of Patmos
Style: Bus – Ferry – Plane: Religious – History – Photography tour

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Greece:
    -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, the Mars Hill where St. Paul made his famous speech to the Athenians for the “Unknown God”
    -Ancient Corinth where Paul worked, old market and Bemma
    The historical places of:
    -Vergina, the tomb of Macedonia King Philip, father of Alexander the Great.
    -Delphi, the ancient most important religious center and the oracle
    -Meteora, the rock monasteries
    -Athens, the birth place of democracy and Acropolis the place any civilized person has to visit.
  • Patmos Island
    Grotto, the Cave of Apocalypse
    Monastery of St. John
    The Chapel of Virgin Mary
    Chora of Patmos
  • Turkey:
    Seven Churches of Revelation
    Izmir city. Churches of Ephesus & Laodicea
    Churches of Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira & Pamukkale
    Church of Pergamon, Smyrna & St. Polycarp
    Ancient Ephesus
    the House of Virgin Mary
    Pamukkale with snow-white terraced cliff pools
    Pergamon, the famous Red-Court and the Acropolis
    Istanbul sightseeing and Hagia Sophia

INCLUDED

  • Transportation with Luxury private car or minivan /bus
  • Experienced En speaking driver
  • Hotels 3*, 4*, 5*
  • Meals Breakfast (B,_,_)
  • Entrance fees to archeological sites and museums
  • Official En speaking local guides
  • Meet & Greet on the arrival at the airport
  • Ferry tickets

NOT INCLUDED

  • Flight ticket (International and 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: ISTANBUL ARRIVAL (_,_,_)

Arrive in Istanbul. Meet our staff at the airport, welcome.  Transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon walk on your own in the city. Visit the Spice Market. Overnight in Istanbul.
Optional: Dinner in a typical Turkish restaurant.

Day 2: ISTANBUL (Constantinople) SIGHTSEEING (B,_,_)

Morning visit to the Kariye Museum, the old church of St. Saviour in Chora treasuring the marvelous and superbly preserved mosaics and frescoes, which represents scenes drawn from the life of Virgin and Christ. Then drive to Hagia Sophia, the church of Divine Wisdom, built by Justinian in 537 A.D. Later visit to the Blue Mosque, famous for its magnificent interior with blue tiles slender minarets and graceful cascade of dome and semi domes. Continue to Topkapi Palace Museum which was both the symbolic and political center of the Ottoman Empire for nearly four centuries to enjoy the dazzling displays of the Treasures of Ottoman Sultans, and the porcelain collection which is Unique in the world. Then Grand Bazaar, the oldest shopping market in the world which has more than 4000 shops. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION – SMYRNA / PERGAMON (B,_,_)

Morning visit to the Orthodox Patriarchate, the Ecumenical Patriarch, on the Golden Horn followed by a visit to the Catholic Church St. Antonie on the main walking Istiklal street, formerly the Grande Rue De Pera. OR Take a Bosporus cruise by boat zigzagging between the coasts of two continents, Asia and Europe. Then transfer to Istanbul a/p. Flight to Izmir(Smyrna) to start our Seven Churches tour. Drive Smyrna to visit the St Polycarp church. Then to Pergamon the city described as having the throne of Satan, is “praised for its martyrdom and perseverance but those who hold false teachings are criticized” (Rev. 2:12-17). Here you will see the Acropolis famous for Greek & Roman Temples as well as the theatre built into the steep hillside. Return to Izmir. Overnight.

Day 4: THYRATIRA – SARDIS – PHILADELPHIA (B,_,_)

Morning drive to Thyatira is “praised for its increasing faith and service, but criticized for its tolerance of Jezebel, an immoral women who calls herself a prophetess” (Rev. 2:18-29). Then to Sardis, “The church of Sardes is described as dead, and it must wake up. However, there are some who have not “soiled their clothes”(Rev. 3:1-6). End the day with a visit to ancient Philadelphia which was known for its variety of temples and worship centers. “The church of brotherly love that endures patiently” (Rev. 3:7-13). Then drive to your hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight.

Day 5: EPHESUS – MASS IN THE HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY – KUSADASI (B,_,_)

This morning you will visit the House of Virgin Mary and join Mass, available only on Sundays. It is believed that St. John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus after Christ death in this small house on Bulbuldagi (Mount Nightingale) where she spent the last years of her life. This house is a popular pilgrimage place for Christians and Moslems and has been accepted by the Vatican as a pilgrimage destination. We then visit Ephesus, which was the largest harbor in Minor Asia and big trade center. Ephesus was also the center of worship for Diana and Artemis. The Temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. St. Paul stayed in Ephesus longer than in any other city and it was here that Timothy was consecrated the first Bishop, acts 18 and 20. Ephesus received praise for its perseverance, bad criticism for forsaking its “first love”(Rev. 2:1-7).You will explore some of the best preserved theatres, fountains and buildings in the world. Finally visit to the Basilica of St John which stands over the believed burial site of St. John, who is identified as the apostle, evangelist, author of the Fourth Gospel and prophet, author of Revelation. Return to your hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight.

Day 6: HIERAPOLIS – LAODIKIA – SAMOS ISLAND (B,_,_)

This morning we’ll visit the ancient City of Hierapolis as well as the world famous travertens of Pamukkale. Then take an enjoyable drive to Laodicea located in the Lycus River valley of western Asia Minor. Laodikea was a primary trade route between the cultures of the West and East, well known in the ancient world for its wealth in the textile industry, banking and medical school of Laodocea. “The “lukewarm” church with a faith that’s neither hot nor cold” (Rev. 3:14-22). After visits, drive back to Kusadasi and take a boat to Samos island. Overnight in Samos.
OR Option 2. Overnight at Kusandasi and next morning transfer to Izmir airport take the early morning flight to Athens. In this case, we skip Samos, Patmos islands

Day 7: PATMOS ISLAND – OVERNIGHT FERRY TO PIRAEUS (B,_,_)

Morning boat (hydrofoil) transfer to Patmos to visit the sacred island of Patmos. We’ll Visit St, John monastery and the grotto, where St John the Evangelist wrote the Apocalypse. Apostle had a vision, a vision of the world to come. His student, Prohoros, wrote down this vision by order of the Lord, and it is known as the 27th and final chapter of the Holly Bible. In the evening embarkation on the ferry boat Patmos – Piraeus. Overnight on board in double / triple cabins.

Day 8: ATHENS SIGHTSEEING – ACROPOLIS (B,_,_)
Arrival in Piraeus in the morning. Athens sightseeing tour, guided visit to Acropolis with its Parthenon, a place any civilized person has to visit, and its new museum. Constitution Sq. Presidential Place, Panathinaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 and the Mars Hill, where St.Paul made his famous speech to the Athenians for the “Unknown God”. In the afternoon free time in Athens to walk to Plaka, Athens old town. Overnight in Athens.
Optional: Folklore night in a tavern at Plaka with Greek food, wine and Greek dances.

Day 9: ANCIENT CORINTH – EPIDAURUS – MYCENAE – NAFPLIO (B,_,_)
This day we have a daily excursion to Ancient Corinth and Argolida. We take the highway to Peloponnesus. On the way we have a short stop at Corinth canal, separating Greece mainland from Peloponnesus. Its first cut attempt was in 59 B.C. Then we’ll visit ancient Corinth which was the meeting point of many nationalities because the main current of the trade between Asia and Western Europe passed through its harbors. St. Paul’s first visit lasted nearly two years and established a Christian community there about 51 AD. (Acts of the Apostles (15:36-18:22). He also addressed 2 epistles to Corinthians. The 1st one (56 AD) opens with a plea for Christian unity and remarkable is his passage on Love. 2nd one (57 AD) – “God has given us the Holy Spirit as a pledge (1:22, 5:5)”. Then we visit the open Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, famous for its acoustic (4th century B.C.), the Homeric city of Mycenae (1300 B.C.) – home place of Agamemnon, leader of Greeks in the Trojan war – to see the Lions Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Royal Tombs. Later we visit the beautiful Nafplio, the first capital of Greece in its modern history. In the afternoon we drive back to Athens.

Day 10: DELPHI – KALAMBAKA (B,_,_) 
Delphi city considered by the ancients Greeks to be the center (omphalos) of the world and a religious center. This is the place where you might get Pythia’s chrism for your future and the future of the world, as many other Kings and Emperors in the past have done. Even Alexander the Great got her advice before conquering the word. Guided tour to Archeological site, Temple of Apollo, theater, market and the famous Omphalos (navel of the earth), and the Delphi museum with the amazing sculptures. Then we visit the traditional village of Arachova and latter with driving through central Greece we arrive in Kalambaka. Overnight.

Day 11: METEORA – VERIA – VERGINA -THESSALONIKI (B,_,_)
Short drive to the unique Meteora to visit the Byzantine Monasteries standing between earth and the sky atop huge rocks and containing historical and religious treasures. The 1st monastery in the area was hand-built by a monk from Athos in 14th century. We’ll visit two monasteries. One of the Monasteries we’ll see is the Great Meteoron (Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ). It is the highest, largest and oldest one of the remaining six. Then we continue our drive north and we stop at Veria to see the “Vima” (place-platform) where Apostle Paul preach to the inhabitants. Short drive from Veria and we arrive to Vergina to see the tomb of King Philip, Alexander’s the Great father, and the Vergina treasures. Late in the afternoon we arrive to Thessaloniki for overnight.

Day 12: THESSALONIKI CITY TOUR (B,_,_)
After breakfast, we will explore Thessaloniki, where Paul preached and wrote two epistles to the Ancient Thessalonians. We’ll see the agora, 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. Rest of day free to walk in the beauteful city. Optional: Dinner at a local tavern at Ladadika, at the old part of the city next to the harbor, with local food, wine and Greek music

Day 13: KAVALA – PHILIPPI (B,_,_)
Morning drive through the picturesque county of North Greece and we arrive to Kavala. We’ll visit Philippi the place which Apostle Paul visited twice on his missionary journeys and where he established a strong church, the first in Europe. We will see the places where St. Paul stepped first time in Europe, where Lydia was baptized and became the first convert, Philippi Agora and Apostle Paul’s and St. Sylas prison. After a short stop in Kavala we drive back to Thessalonik for overnight.

Day 14: DEPARTURE (B,_,_)
Transfer to Thessaloniki airport for your flight back home.