Joining the exclusive Catholic Tours, following in St. Paul's footsteps, was transformative. From Thessaloniki's St. Demetrios Church to the coastal beauty of Thrace, each site overflowed with history and spirituality. Veria's Roman road and Kalambaka's monasteries left me in awe. Exploring Athens, Ephesus, and Patmos deepened my connection to faith. Crete's Palace of Knossos and Santorini's Cathedral of St. John were poignant highlights. Corinth's echoes of St. Paul's words were profound. This journey left an indelible mark on my soul, a testament to the enduring legacy of Greece and Turkey's religious heritage.

5

10 days 9 nights

13 Destinations

SCHEDULE

Depart for Greece

Arrive in Thessaloniki

Tour Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, and visit St. Demetrios Church. Continue to Kavala, where Paul, Timothy, and Silas landed on the coast of Thrace. Visit Philippi, where Paul won his first European convert, and tour the Baptistery of Lydia.

Visit Veria and see part of the Roman road, the Egnatia Way. Celebrate Mass at the Bema in Veria. Continue to Kalambaka for an amazing view of the “monasteries hanging in the air,” with dozens of rock pillars jutting up out of the plain. Visit one of the six monasteries that are still active.

Visit Athens: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Mars Hill, the Olympic Stadium of 1896, the Temple of Zeus, the Royal Palace, Syntagma Square, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldiers, the Arch of Hadrian, Hadrian’s Wall, the Olympic Complex of the 2004 Games, and the Academy University National Library.

Celebrate Mass at St. Paul Church in Piraeus. Board the cruise ship and sail to Mykonos. Free afternoon to explore Mykonos on your own.

Arrive to Ephesus. Visit the ancient city with its temples, marble streets, library, agoras, baths, and theater. Continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, where tradition says St. John brought Mary after Jesus’s death and resurrection. Sail to Patmos and visit the “Holy Island,” known as the site of the Revelation of John, and visit the Monastery of St. John.

Arrive in Heraklion, the capital of Crete, and visit the Palace of Knossos. Visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Santorini, and enjoy some free time. Sail to Pireaus Harbor in Athens.

Disembark at Pireaus and continue to Corinth, where St. Paul wrote the First Letter to the Thessalonians. Explore the extensive archeological site, including the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Agora, and the Bema. See the pavement inscription of Erastus, the Roman Lechaion Road, the lower Fountain of Peirene, and the imposing Acrocorinth. Continue to Athens and visit the Plaka, a lively historic neighborhood.

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