ITINERARY:
Day 1: DEPART U.S.A.
You'll leave this evening on an overnight Flight to Athens, Greece.
Day 2: ATHENS
Welcome to Greece. You are greeted by your tour guide and transferred to the hotel. This afternoon embark on a city tour including the Agora where Paul preached. Here Socrates thought and was forced to drink the deadly hemlock. On Mars Hill, Paul was brought before the council and deliv¬ered his great sermon. You will visit the ancient town of Acropolis to see the Parthenon, the theater of Dionyssos, theTemple of the Wingless Victory and other sights, which reflect the golden age of Greece. Dinner and overnight Athens.
Day 3: CORINTH
This morning visit ancient Corinth following closely the same route Paul took during his journey. Here you visit the marketplace where Paul preached to the Corinthians, visit the Temple of Apollo and the Corinth Museum. You return to Athens this afternoon to enjoy exploring the town on your own. Dinner and overnight Athens.
Day 4: ATHENS - MYKONOS
After breakfast you will be transferred to Piraeus, where you board your cruise ship. The first stop is picture perfect Mykonos, with its white houses, chapels and windmills.
Day 5: RHODES
Today the ship docks in Rhodes, the island Paul visited during his third journey as he sailed toward Jerusalem. Tour the medieval city where the Crusaders gathered before sailing to the Holy Land, and the Knights of St. John built the magnificent town. Or take an optional tour to the majestic Acropolis of Lindos and tile old town built by the Crusaders.
Day 6: PATMOS - KUSADASI - EPHESUS
Our first stop is the sacred island of Patmos, where John received the mysti¬cal Revelation, which forms the last book of the New Testament. The optional excursion takes you to the Grotto of the Revelation. And the 11th century Monastery of St. John (which houses the original script of the Gospel). In the afternoon the ship arrives in the colorful Turkish port of Kusadasi, where you dis¬embark. Afternoon will be one of the highlights of your tour. You will visit the most complete magnificent ancient city ever excavated. Tour the antique city, Ephesus, with its theatre, library, Temple of Artemis, declared as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. We will have a Mass at Virgin Mary’s House in Ephesus. Tradition tells us that the Apostle accompanied Mary to Ephesus. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 7: KUSADASI - LAODICEA - HIERAPOLIS - PAMUKKALE - KUSADASI
After breakfast, proceed to the spa city of Pamukkale; see the cascading water from the cliffs forming crystallized, dazzling white “frozen waterfalls “. Visit Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches. Christians were chastised here by John for being lukewarm. The next visit is to the vast ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis, and see the magnificently preserved Necropolis, the Main Street and Gates. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 8: KUSADASI - EPHESUS - ST. JOHN BASILICA
Today is one of the highlights of your tour. You will visit the most complete magnificent ancient city ever excavated. Tour the antique city, with its theatre, library, Temple of Artemis, declared as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. We will have Mass at the Basilica of St. John and visit his tomb.
We will speak about Philadelphia, Sardis and Thyatira. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 9: THYATIRA - PERGAMUM - TROAS - CANAKKALE
After breakfast we will drive to Pergamum where the first Christians were executed by Rome. This was the most favored of the Seven Churches, and Christianity came here very early. You will see the Temple of Zeus, and the Temple of Athena, the fabled Acropolis and the Royal Gate. Here parchment was developed replacing papyrus. You will also visit Asclepion one of the foremost heal¬ing centers of the ancient world. Drive by Troas, where Paul had a vision in which he was called to Macedonia (Greece). Proceed to Canakkale for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: TROAS - TROY - ISTANBUL
Visit Troas, where Paul had a vision in which he was called to Macedonia (Greece). Proceed to Troy to see the city made famous in Homer's poems, as the center of the Trojan War, including the legendary Trojan Horse. In the afternoon cross the Dardanelles, where you see Gallipoli, the famous site of the bloody World War I battle, then drive along the Sea of Marmara to Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul. Evening you can participate optional “Turkish Night Show” with belly dancing and Turkish Folk Music.
Day 11: ISTANBUL
Full day city tour of magnificent Istanbul, the city that links two continents Asia and Europe to each other. Visit Topkapi the palace of the Sultans, Hagia Sophia, the magnificent former Christian Basilica, the Chora Church with its Byzantine artworks, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, with over 4000 little shops. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 12: RETURN TO THE U.S.A.
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
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