A Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Greece & The Greek Isles

Day 1 – Monday
USA / GREECE
Our journey begins as we depart the USA en route to Greece.  Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight.

Day 2 – Tuesday
THESSALONIKI
Today we arrive in Thessaloniki and are met by our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director.  Here in Thessaloniki, where Paul preached and to where he sent his first and second letters to the Thessalonians, we will see the Byzantine Acropolis on our way to visit the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the Church of Saint Demetrius prior to arriving at our hotel.  Dinner will follow our celebration of Mass in a private room at our hotel.  Overnight in Thessaloniki. 

Day 3 – Wednesday
THESSALONIKI / PHILIPPI / KAVALA
Today we enjoy a panoramic drive to the Old City Walls where we have excellent views of the city and the opportunity to take pictures.  During our driving tour we see the White Tower, the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda standing on the Egnatian Way.  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.  We continue on to the river where Lydia were baptized.  Following Mass near the site of Lydia’s baptism, we drive to the beautiful port city of Kavala, the ancient city of Neapolis, where Paul landed with his disciples Timothy & Silas when they sailed from Troas.  Kavala was later renamed Christoupolis, meaning “City of Christ”, and became the first European city to accept Christianity.  Late afternoon we return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 – Thursday
THESSALONIKI / VERIA / METEORA / KALAMBAKA
This morning we will drive to Veria, (ancient Berea), on the terraced foot of Mount Vermion to see the Bema of the Apostle Paul, from where he preached.  Here we pause for our own celebration of Mass.  Following Mass we drive to spectacular Meteora with its thousand-year-old Byzantine monasteries perched precariously on huge finger-like rocks, where we enjoy a wonderful view.  We continue on to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight. 

Day 5 – Friday
KALAMBAKA / DELPHI / ATHENS
Today 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.  After our tour we arrive at our hotel for check-in.  Prior to dinner this evening, we gather in a private room at our hotel for our celebration of Mass. Overnight in Athens.

Day 6 – Saturday
ATHENS / AEGEAN SEA / MYKONOS
This morning we board our ship for our Aegean Sea cruise.  During our sailing to Mykonos, “The Island of the Winds”, we pause for a celebration of Mass on board our ship.  Late afternoon we enjoy dinner aboard our ship, prior to arriving at our first stop, Mykonos.  We will 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 enjoy a walking tour with our guide including a visit to its fishing harbor where we will see shops and boutiques selling handmade sweaters, dresses, fabrics, jewelry and more at bargain prices.  Overnight at sea.

Day 7 – Sunday
KUSADASI / EPHESUS / PATMOS
This morning 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 Mary the Mother of Our Lord lived here with Saint John the Evangelist.  The Apostle Paul spent two years in Ephesus and wrote his First Letter to the Corinthians here.  We celebrate an outdoor 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.  Next we sail to the island of Patmos, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation.  Here we will visit Saint John’s Monastery and the Grotto of the Apocalypse.  We return to our ship for dinner and overnight at sea.

Day 8 – Monday
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).  A short ride takes us to the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos, which is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos.  At the Archaeological Museum we’ll see displays of many of the treasures found during the excavation of this ancient city.  We re-board our ship and celebrate Mass on our ship en route to Santorini, believed by many travelers to be the most breathtaking of all the Greek Isles.  Upon our arrival in Santorini, we enjoy a walking tour and 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 return to our ship for dinner.  Overnight at sea en route to Athens.

 Day 9 – Tuesday
ATHENS
Our ship returns to the port of Piraeus this morning.  Following breakfast on board, we disembark our ship and enjoy a guided tour of classical Athens, including a visit the legendary Acropolis to see the spectacular Parthenon and the Temple of Athena and its Winged Victory statue.  Adjacent to the Acropolis, we enjoy the classical Greek culture in the Plaka area, with its cobbled stone paths where two thousand year old relics are seen amongst colorful shops and restaurants.  We also visit the Areopagus or Mars Hill where Paul was brought before the council and delivered his famous “Men of Athens” sermon on the “Unknown God” (Acts 17:22-31).  Following Mass at the Bema Seat of Saint Paul,  we continue on with a driving tour where we 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.  Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 10 – Wednesday
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 in the midst of the ruins of the church of Corinth and see the pillars, steps and place of public worship where Paul preached, will enhance your understanding and love of Corinthians I, II.  We also visit the sixth century BC Temple of Apollo, the Museum of Corinth and the Bema Seat of Saint Paul.  Following Mass in Corinth, we continue on to Cenchrea, the ancient seaport from where Apostle Paul set sail for Ephesus across the Aegean Sea.  Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 11 – Thursday
ATHENS
Today we enjoy a free day in Athens.  Late afternoon we gather for a visit and celebration of Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Athens.  Following Mass, we enjoy this evening’s special “Farewell Dinner” at Bairaktaris Tavern.  Overnight in Athens. 

Day 12 – Friday
ATHENS / USA
This morning we depart the ancient New Testament land of Greece on 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.