| 1st day: THESSALONIKI Arrival in Thessaloniki. Accommodation at the hotel centrally located in the city. Dinner – overnight. 2nd day: THESSALONIKI: VISIT OF THE CITY Today we become familiar with Thessaloniki, built about 315 BC by Cassander, brother-in-law of Alexander, where St. Paul wrote two letters to the ancient Thessalonians. Paul established the first church here (Acts 17:1-10). Ruins of an early Christian church are near the Palace of Galerius. We examine in Paul’s letters to this community his unbounded determination to continue the Church. We will also visit the church and crypt of St. Dimiti and the church of St. Sophia. Time permitting, we will stop in the Old Town, before going to our hotel for dinner and overnight. 3rd day: THESSALONIKI / PHILIPPI / KAVALA / THESSALONIKI In the morning we leave Thessaloniki and drive via the lakes Koronia and Volvi to Philippi, named after King Philip II of Macedonia, where Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe and sowed the seeds of Christianity. Paul and Silas came to Philippi on the second missionary journey and Paul returned on his third (Acts 20:2-6). It was here that Paul baptized “a certain woman named Lydia”, the first Christian convert in Europe. The Roman Forum here, completely excavated, was built after Paul’s time. We will walk among the ruins, located on the rocky ledge above the town’s main road and view the “Prison” where Paul and Silas were thrown after exorcizing a spirit from a slave girl. In the rocks, you will find inscriptions and carved reliefs of deities. It was in Philippi that Octavian and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius, last defenders of the Roman Republic in 42 BC. Some ten miles southeast of Philippi is the modern port city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis, where Paul, accompanied by Silas, Luke, and Timothy, first set foot in Europe. To reach Kavala, we will follow the Via Egnatia, a remnant of Rome’s highway system, viewing Roman and Greek tombstones and ruts of ancient chariot wheels. Upon arrival in Kavala, located like an amphitheater by the sea, we will have the rest of the afternoon to explore this historical city. You may want to visit the Old City of Kavala including the Islamic Imaret, the lighthouse (which provides an amazing, full view of Kavala), the castle with its tower, and the famous Kamara, which is the Roman aqueduct that was reconstructed by the sultan Suleiman the Magnificent around 1550. You may also wish to visit the Modern City of Kavala, including the Heroes Monument next to the Public Garden, the Town hall, the Municipal Library, the building of the Byzantine Antiquities Authority and the Municipal Museum. Return late in the evening in Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight are at our hotel. 4th day: THESSALONIKI / VERIA-VERGINA / KALAMBAKA: MONASTERIES TOUR IN METEORA Departure in the morning and arrival in Veria to visit the bema of St. Paul, where Paul stood and preached the gospel to the people of Veria, as well as the beautiful white marble monument built in honor of St. Paul. We then continue to visit the archeological site of Vergina. After that we departure and arrive in Kalambaka, where we will visit the breathtaking Byzantine monasteries of Meteora. These monasteries, among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks, which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless, containing priceless Byzantine art. We return to our hotel in Kalambaka for dinner and the evening. Overnight. 5th day: KALAMBAKA / DELPHI / OSSIOS LUCAS MONASTERY / ATHENS This morning we are off to the City of Delphi, home to the Sanctuary of Apollo, where sat the famous oracle. In Delphi, we explore the fascinating archeological sites including the Temple of Apollo, the Sacred Corycian Cave, and the Castalian Spring, which are nestled in the forested slopes and rocky crags on the south side of the sacred mountain called Parnassus. Mt. Parnassus is also the legendary home of the muses and it is truly a sight of inspiration for poets. A short distance from these ancient ruins, we will also visit the Tholos Temple, at the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, unusual for it’s circular shape. Dinner and overnight are at our hotel. En route we will stop at the beautiful Ossios Lucas Monastery. Then we continue on to Kalambaka. This city is built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks, at the point where the Pinios River flows down from the Pindus range. We continue and arrive in Athens. Dinner and overnight will be at our hotel. 6th day: ATHENS / ARGOLIS We journey to Corinth, the largest city in the land now known as Greece. Here Paul spent 18 months, preaching to the Jews and Gentiles. The site is overlooked by an Acropolis housing the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love. In Corinth, Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla and his trial by Gallio took place in the agora. The community he founded here caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters. Paul’s trial by Gallio took place in the agora (Acts 18:12-17). It is from Corinth, also, that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. We celebrate our liturgy today in Corinth with a reflection on Paul the Missionary. We will also visit the ruins of Cenchaeae, the harbor from which St. Paul sailed to Ephesus (Acts 18:18). We have lunch on our own before we continue on to Mycenae, home of one of the world’s best-preserved amphitheatres, with remarkable acoustics. The ruins of Mycenae include the massive walls termed Cyclopean because they were thought to have been built by the like-named giants; the famous Lion Gate; and the beehive tombs excavated (1876-1878) by the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, which are known locally as the Treasury of Atreus and the Tomb of Clytemnestra. We return to our hotel in Athens for dinner and overnight. 7th day: ATHENS / THESSALONIKI This morning we enjoy a guided tour of the city of Athens, the birthplace of Western Culture. We begin our city tour with perhaps the most perfect piece of architecture known, the world-renowned acropolis, containing the ruins of the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena. We will also see the agora where Paul addressed the Athenians, Hadrian’s Arch, and the Temple of Zeus. Other highlights of Athens include the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Presidential Palace, and the Stadium. We then departure for our return to Thessaloniki. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner – overnight. 8th day: Departure for the borders. |
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