Day 1: Athens

Arriving in Athens, your journey begins with an unforgettable experience. You will meet with our company representative and be transferred to the city center. The tour guide will talk about the ancient artifacts and Christian history of the city as we travel to the hotel. Next, we will drive to the Hellenic Parliament, the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, and the Presidential Palace as well as the “Kallimarmaro” Stadium. This stadium hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Afterward, you will check into the hotel and have the rest of the day free to relax or walk the streets of Athens. Dinner and overnight stay in the evening.

Day 2: Athens
Acropolis – Old Town – Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens – Panagia Kapnikarea Chapel
After our breakfast, we will start the tour of Athens, the cradle of democracy. First, we will visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the Erechtheion and we will see the view of where Apostle Paul was in 51 AD. Apostle Paul arrived in Athens on a ship from Veria in 51 AD. While awaiting the arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia, he walked through the city, talking in the synagogue with the townspeople in the marketplace, but was disturbed by the multitude of idols. Thus, his teachings about Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection surprised some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, who described him as a «gossiper». He was not persecuted by Athens for his teachings. Instead, he was taken to the Areopagus to formally address his teachings in detail.

Then we will visit the ancient market and the Acropolis Museum. We will walk through the narrow streets of the old town in the famous Plaka with its many shops and cafes. We will continue to the chapel of Panagia Kapnikarea, one of the most important Byzantine monuments of Athens, located in the middle of Ermou Street, we will reach the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, also known as the Metropolis. The rest of the time is free for a rest or a walk. Dinner and overnight stay in the evening.

Day 3, Athens – Corinth – Mycenae – Athens
After breakfast, we will depart from Athens for the Peloponnese. After a short stop at the Isthmus of Corinth, we will arrive at the ancient city of Corinth, the city that inspired many of Paul’s best-known letters. We are not sure how Paul got to Corinth. Certainly, he left worried about the Athenians’ care of his teachings and the state of the Macedonian church. In Corinth, Paul became associated with Aquila and Priscilla, who, like him, were stage producers and seemed to already know something about Jesus. He lived and worked with them and taught Jews and Greeks every Saturday.

Most Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and at one point Paul shook the dust off his clothes and went to live in the house of Titius Justus, a convert who lived near the synagogue. Among those who believed was the Great Hall of Crispus where the whole family was baptized. The book of Acts tells us that at one point the Jews of Corinth conspired against Paul to let their passions rage. They dragged him to court, accusing him of illegally trying to persuade people to follow his teachings.

The hatred of Paul’s countrymen, not the pagans, was the source of his issue, so his denunciation of the Jews had no effect. After visiting ancient Corinth, we will head to Mycenae, home to the ruins of the Bronze Age city, to see the famous Lion Gate, Tomb of Agamemnon, and many other fascinating landmarks, before returning to Athens. Free time in the afternoon, dinner that evening, and return to the hotel.

4th Day, Athens – Kalambaka – Meteora
After breakfast, we will depart Athens and move north. We will pass by Thermopylae, the location of the well-known conflict between 300 Spartans and Persians. The charming town of Kalambaka, which is found at the foot of Meteora, is where we will arrive after continuing to traverse the mountains. Here, we will see the famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched on top of massive rocks in a variety of exquisite shapes. Their origins date back to the 14th century when monks sought safety in rock caves before leaving to build structures that were taller than the original log cabins and later turned into monasteries. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.

5th Day, Kalambaka – Vergina – Veria – Thessaloniki
After breakfast, we will depart from Kalambaka and travel north. Our next stop will be the tomb of King Philip (father of Alexander the Great). This tomb is considered one of Greece’s most significant archaeological discoveries, as it may hold clues to the identity of the deceased and his era through the study of its remnants. We’re going to travel to Veria, a nearby city, and check out the synagogue where Paul delivered his sermon. There was a bustling Jewish synagogue in the populated city of Berea. Paul and Silas arrived at the synagogue and proceed in that direction. The Jews of Veria were more polite than the Thessalonians and listened with interest to Paul’s teaching of the Gospel. The listeners were people of high social classes, Jews and converts, and lots of women.

The place where Paul is supposed to have stood and preached the Gospel to the Bereans, the so-called «Step of the Apostle Paul», has been impressively shaped in our days. Since 1995, a series of religious, cultural, sports, and artistic events have been established under the name «Pavlia», which culminates each time with a scientific conference. We will arrive in Athens in the afternoon and enjoy the beautiful cityscape. After dinner, you will spend the night at your hotel.

6th Day, Thessaloniki – Philippi – Kavala – Thessaloniki
After breakfast, we will start our day by visiting Agios Dimitrios and the Byzantine wall and the Acropolis of Thessaloniki. Then we will enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the top of the Acropolis. At this point, we will visit Philippi and Kavala, one of the most beautiful cities in Greece with its picturesque port.

A turning point in the Apostle Paul’s journey begun when he had a vision. A Macedonian man was standing and begging him, saying: «Go over to Macedonia and help us.»

When he saw this vision, he immediately left for Macedonia, because he concluded that the Lord has invited him to preach the gospel to them (the Macedonians). To strengthen and grow the existing Churches, he had already started his second tour. Paul reaches Neapolis (Kavala), after a two-day journey with strong winds, for the first time on European soil in the winter of 49 A.D.

Apostle Paul disembarked from the ship near Agios Nikolaos and immediately began the journey to Philippi via the Egnatian Way. With him were Silas, Timothy, and Saint Luke the Doctor, evangelist, and author of the Acts of the Apostles. Then we will return to Thessaloniki in the afternoon. Dinner and rest.

Day 7 – Return
Our trip ends today. Return to our place of residence.