A Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Greece &the Greek Isles

November 3, 2023 – Friday
COLUMBUS / GREECE
Our journey begins as we gather at John Glenn Columbus International Airport for our connecting flight to Greece. Meals are served on our transatlantic flight.

November 4, 2023 – Saturday
ATHENS
Today we arrive in Athens and are met by our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director. We enjoy a motor coach tour of classical Athens, where we will see such sites as Constitution Square, the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium and the neoclassical buildings of Athens. We will also visit and celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite (Saint Denis), the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Athens. Following Mass, we arrive at our hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

November 5, 2023 – Sunday
ATHENS / DELPHI / KALAMBAKA
Following Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, we drive to Delphi, the center of the ancient world, the “omphalos” (navel) of the earth – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. On the slopes of Mount Parnassos, in a landscape of unparalleled natural beauty and majesty, lies the archaeological site of Delphi. We visit the Temple of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians and the Archaeological Museum containing such masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. We proceedto Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

November 6, 2023 – Monday
KALAMBAKA / METEORA / VERIA / THESSALONIKI
This morning wedrive to the spectacular Meteora with its thousand-year-old Byzantine monasteries perched precariously on huge finger-like rocks, where we enjoy a wonderful view. We proceedto Veria, on the terraced foot of Mount Vernon, where we visit St. Paul’s Tribune and celebrate Mass at St. Paul’s Bema, where Paul preached. Following Mass, we depart for Thessaloniki where Paul also preached and sent his first and second letters to the Thessalonians. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

November 7, 2023 – Tuesday
THESSALONIKI / PHILIPPI / KAVALA
Today we enjoy a panoramic driving tour of Thessaloniki where we will see the White Tower, the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda standing on the Egnatian Way. We pause at the Old City walls offering a panoramic view of Thessaloniki. In the afternoon we drive to Philippi, where Paul established the first church in Europe. Here we see the ancient forum and jail where Paul & Silas were imprisoned as well as the river where Lydia was baptized. Following Mass at Lydia’s Baptistery, we drive to the beautiful port city of Kavala (Neapolis), where Paul landed when he sailed from Troas. We return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

November 8, 2023 – Wednesday
THESSALONIKI / ATHENS
This morning we return to Athens, enjoying the scenic drive along the way. Upon our arrival in Athens, we will visit the legendary Acropolis to see the spectacular Parthenon and the Temple of Athena and its Winged Victory statue. We also visit the Areopagus or Mars Hill where Paul was brought before the council and made his famous “Men of Athens” speech on the “Unknown God”. Following Mass at the Bema Seat of Saint Paul, we enjoy free time for shopping and personal exploration on the pedestrian friendly Ermou Street. Finally, we arrive at our hotel in Athens for check-in. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

November 9, 2023 – Thursday
ATHENS / CORINTH / CENCHREA
This morning we drive along the picturesque Corinthian Gulf to Corinth, where the Apostle Paul lived and from where he sent his first and second letters to the Corinthians. We visit the market place where Paul preached to the Corinthians. To stand among the ruins of the Church of Corinth and see the place of public worship where Paul preached, will enhance your understanding and love for Paul’s two letters to the Corinthians. We also visit the sixth century BC Temple of Apolloandthe Museum of Corinth. Following Mass at the Bema Seat of Saint Paul, we drive to Cenchrea, the ancient seaport from where Apostle Paul set sail for Ephesus across the Aegean Sea. Late afternoon we return to Athens where we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Athens.

November 10, 2023 – Friday
ATHENS / AEGEAN SEA / MYKONOS
This morning we board our cruise ship. During our sailing to Mykonos, we pause for a celebration of Mass. Late afternoon we enjoy dinner aboard our ship, prior to arriving at our first stop, Mykonos. We see a hilly, rock-ribbed island of 29 square miles dotted with more than 350 tiny chapels built by 19th-century pirates to invoke the protection of their patron saints. We visit a fishing harbor with shops and boutiques selling handmade sweaters, dresses, fabrics, jewelry and more at bargain prices. Overnight at Sea.

November 11, 2023 – Saturday
KUSADASI / EPHESUS / PATMOS
Today we arrive at the port of Kusadasi to enjoy a tour of Ephesus, the best preserved of the original Seven Churches of Revelation. Ancient tradition holds that the Blessed Virgin Marylived here with Saint John. The Apostle Paul spent two years in Ephesus and wrote his First Letter to the Corinthians here. We celebrate Mass at the House of the Virgin Mary, where Mary spent the final years of her life. Following Mass, we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Ancient Ephesus where we will see among other sites, the Magnesian Gate, the Agora, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the Thermal Baths of Scholastica, Trajan’s Fountain, the Prytaneum, Hadrian’s Temple and the Great Theatre. Our tour concludes with a visit to the Covered Bazaar of Kusadasi with free time for shopping. In the afternoon we sail to the Island of Patmos, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. Following dinner on our ship, we disembark the ship for a visit to Patmos, where we will visit Saint John’s Monastery and the Grotto of the Apocalypse. We return to our ship for overnight at Sea.

November 12, 2023 – Sunday
SANTORINI
This morning we dock in Santorini, where we will see the beautiful whitewashed houses, narrow streets and open-air cafes that cling to steep cliffs that are accessible only by cable car or mule. An interesting fact about Santorini is that in recent Minoan excavations, evidence was discovered that have led scientists and archeologists to believe that Santorini may be the fabled lost continent of Atlantis. We depart Santorini for our overnight sailing to Athens. Overnight at Sea.

November 13, 2023 – Monday
ATHENS
Today our ship returns to the port of Piraeus. Upon disembarking from our ship, we will celebrate Mass at St. Denis Cathedral, followed by a tour of an olive oil factory. Following free time for lunch and shopping, we enjoy a visit and wine tasting at a local winery. Later in the afternoon we gather at a local restaurant and take part in a cooking class, where we will learn about Greek cuisine as we prepare our own meal for this evening’s “farewell dinner”. Overnight in Athens.

November 14, 2023– Tuesday
ATHENS / COLUMBUS
Following Mass this morning, we bid farewell to the ancient New Testament land of Greece and drive to the airport for our connecting flight home. Though our pilgrimage draws to a close, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer to the Lord.