A Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Greece & the Greek Isles

May 7, 2027 – Friday
WASHINGTON D.C. / GREECE
Our journey begins as we depart Washington’s Dulles International Airport for our overnight flight to Greece. Meals are served on our transatlantic flight.

May 8, 2027 – Saturday
ATHENS
Today we arrive in Athens and are met by our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour manager Daniela Ribera. Our pilgrimage of Greece begins with 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. Following Mass at the Church of St. Joseph, we arrive at our hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

May 9, 2027 – Sunday
ATHENS / DELPHI
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. Dinner and overnight in Delphi.

May 10, 2027 – Monday
DELPHI / METEORA / KALAMBAKA
This morning we drive to the spectacular Meteora with its thousand-year-old Byzantine monasteries perched precariously on huge finger-like rocks, where we enjoy a visit with a wonderful view. Following our time in Meteora we proceed to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

May 11, 2027 – Tuesday
KALAMBAKA / THESSALONIKI
Following breakfast, we depart for Thessaloniki where Paul preached and sent his first and second letters to the Thessalonians. Here 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. Following the tour, we pause at the Old City walls offering a panoramic view of Thessaloniki. Dinner this evening will be on our own. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

May 12, 2027 – Wednesday
THESSALONIKI / PHILIPPI / KAVALA
Today 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 visit the beautiful port city of Kavala (Neapolis), where Paul landed when he sailed from Troas. We return to Thessaloniki where we enjoy dinner on our own. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

May 13, 2027 – Thursday
THESSALONIKI / VERIA / ATHENS
This morning we depart Thessaloniki and proceed to Veria, on the terraced foot of Mount Vernon. Here we will visit St. Paul’s Tribune and celebrate Mass at St. Paul’s Bema, the very spot where Paul preached to the local community. Following our visit, we continue our scenic drive south, where we will arrive in Athens to check into our hotel. This evening we will explore dinner options on our own. Overnight in Athens.

May 14, 2027 – 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.

May 15, 2027 – 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 Mary lived 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 and where we will visit Saint John’s Monastery and the Grotto of the Apocalypse. We return to our ship for dinner and overnight at Sea.

May 16, 2027 – Sunday
CRETE / SANTORINI
This morning we dock in Heraklion, the capital of Crete. The Apostle Paul ended up in Crete because of severe winds (Acts 27:7). In Heraklion we enjoy a walking tour of the city, including a visit and celebration of Mass at the Church of Saint John the Baptist. Following free time in the heart of Heraklion, we return to our ship and sail to Santorini, where we will see the white-washed 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. Dinner and overnight at Sea.

May 17, 2027 – Monday
ATHENS / CORINTH
Today our ship returns to the port of Piraeus. Upon disembarking from our ship, we will drive to Ancient Corinth to visit the archaeological site where the Apostle Paul lived and preached. Afterwards, we will visit the Nikolaou Family olive mill and bottling factory, where we will learn about olive oil production, followed by a visit to its gift store. In the afternoon, we will arrive at Giannikos Winery, a family-run winery, where we will witness the process of producing wine “from vineyard to bottle”. Later in the afternoon we enjoy free time for shopping prior to our visit and celebration of Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite (Saint Denis), the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Athens. This evening we will explore local restaurants for dinner on our own. Overnight in Athens.

May 18, 2027 – Tuesday
ATHENS
Today we step into history as we visit the legendary Acropolis to marvel at the spectacular Parthenon, the Temple of Athena, and its Winged Victory statue. Just a short walk away, we ascend the Areopagus, famously known as Mars Hill. It was on this very rocky outcrop that the Apostle Paul was brought before the high council of Athens. Here, Paul delivered his profound and brilliant “Men of Athens” speech, revealing the identity of the “Unknown God” to the locals and bridging the gap between paganism and Christianity (Acts 17:22-31). Following our time walking in the footsteps of St. Paul, we will enjoy free time for shopping and personal exploration on the pedestrian-friendly Ermou Street. Early evening, we gather at Mikri Venetia 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”. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

May 19, 2027 – Wednesday
ATHENS / WASHINGTON D.C.
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.