Join Father Geoffrey Baraan in his exciting pilgrimage to the steps of St. Paul in Greece with a cruise in the Greek Islands and Turkey A 15 days 13 nights Pilgrimage (September 15-29,2025)
START TIME
09/15/2025
END TIME
09/29/2025
PRICE
$5,290 Double Room $6340 Single Room
INCLUDED
- Airline Ticket- Round trip Flights
- Accommodation at 4-star hotels
- Two Meals per day (Breakfast and Dinner)
- Transportation in Deluxe Motorcoaches with Air Condition
- Professional Tour Guide all through
- Handling of luggage at the Hotels.
- Daily Mass at all Holy sites
NOT INCLUDED
- Transpiration to and from airport in USA
- Travel Insurance (Optional)
- Tips
- Alcoholic Drinks
ITINERARY
1
Sept.15: USA – Thessalonika
2
Sept. 16: Thessalonika
Arrival, reception, and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
3
Sept. 17: Thessalonika - Philippi - Amphipolis - Kavala
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Departure for an excursion to the locations that witnessed the presence of the Apostle,
as well as the creation of the first Christian communities on the European continent, all within a superb
archaeological framework that will introduce us to the most pivotal history of ancient Greece. AMPHIPOLIS. A
town where a majestic Hellenistic lion stands. When Paul and his companions had to leave Philippi, they crossed
Amphipolis via the splendid Roman road called Via Egnatia, and after crossing the Strymon River, they viewed the
famous statue of the sitting lion. We will visit the archaeological site of the ancient Greek city. KAVALA. Facing
the island of Thasos and now occupying the site of ancient NEAPOLIS, the port of PHILIPPI. It was the first city
visited by Saint Paul during his journey in 49 AD. Kavala has the everlasting glory of being the Beautiful Gate
through which Christ triumphantly entered Europe. In the afternoon, visit PHILIPPI. Formerly called CRENIDES.
To the inhabitants of Philippi, the Apostle Paul wrote the well-known “Epistle to the Philippians,” and from there he
wrote his second “Epistle to the Corinthians.” We will visit the archaeological complex: OCTAGONAL TEMPLE;
AMPHITHEATER; ROMAN AGORA; BATHS; BASILICAS; PAUL’S PRISON; FORUM. Mass in Philippi and
return to Thessalonica. Dinner at the hotel.
4
Sept. 18: Thessalonika - Veria - Vergina - Kalambaka
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Departure for PELLA. Birthplace and residence of Alexander the Great and
the capital of Macedonia until the 5th century BC. Significant excavations were carried out in the city in
1915, which we will visit. VERGINA. In this city, the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great,
was discovered. VERIA (BEREA). Saint Luke writes: “Immediately, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off
to Berea by night, and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue.” Passing through this city,
we will recall the Apostle’s traces in his inexhaustible teaching of the Scriptures on his way to Athens. We
will stroll through its old town’s narrow streets and visit the CHURCH OF PALEA MITROPOLI and
AGII ANARGYROI. Departure for Kalambaka. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
5
Sept. 19: Kalambaka - Delphi
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Tour begins with a visit to the METEORA monasteries. An austere monastic
center since the 11th century, it not only serves as an ideal place for prayer but also attracts visitors to
admire this unique “forest of rocks,” inviting peace and tranquility. This place called many to withdraw
from the world, giving rise to the METEORA MONASTERIES. We will make a complete visit to this
site with its monasteries suspended from the sky. Built on the most whimsical and steep peaks, of the 21
existing monasteries, only six are inhabited. Inside, we can see beautiful frescoes, original icons
painstakingly worked by the monks themselves, and art everywhere. We will have the opportunity to visit
three of these monasteries: the MONASTERY OF TRANSFIGURATION, the MONASTERY OF
SAINT STEPHEN, and the MONASTERY OF HOLY TRINITY, which can be substituted depending on
closure days. Departure for DELPHI. Arrival at the hotel, dinner, and accommodation.
6
Sept. 20: Delphi - Athens
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. DELPHI. Visit. One of the world’s most interesting archaeological sites.
This town owed its fame in antiquity to its Oracle, which already existed in 1500 BC. The ruins we will
visit were discovered in 1860: the TEMPLE OF APOLLO, the THEATER, the STADIUM, the SACRED
WAY, the TREASURY OF THE ATHENIANS, and the famous bronze statue of the CHARIOTEER. We
will visit its MUSEUM, which houses a very relevant collection of the discoveries made in Delphi.
Departure for the OSSIOS LUKAS monastery. Visit. Impressive monastery built in the 10th century,
comprising two churches and monks’ cells. The main church, built on the model of the Basilica of
Constantinople, houses precious mosaics and imposing marble columns. Lunch. Departure for
ATHENS. Arrival at the hotel, dinner, and accommodation.
7
Sept. 21: Athens
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Then visit ATHENS. The cradle of European culture, the source of arts and
ideas, pride of the Ancient Age. Founded in the 15th century BC, when the Apostle entered its streets
around 50 AD, it had been under Roman rule for two centuries. Overwhelmed and astonished by the
luxurious buildings, Paul mingled with the people and ascended to the Acropolis, where he finally
discovered the wonder of the Temple to the Patron of Athens. It is presumed that he did not enter the
Temple and left the sacred site head down and thoughtful, sure that “his spirit was consumed seeing the
city full of idols” (Acts 17:16). We will visit the ACROPOLIS. This hill, fortified during the Minoan
period, was transformed into a sanctuary around the 5th century BC, becoming the heart of all Greek
culture based on the worship of the gods. We will admire the majesty of the PARTHENON and the
elegance of the ERECHTHEION. We will end with the AREOPAGUS, a hill existing below the
Acropolis, where Paul addressed the Athenians, speaking to them and presenting the new doctrine of
which he was a bearer and minister. Then we will pass by the PANATHENAIC STADIUM, the
TEMPLE OF ZEUS, SYNTAGMA SQUARE with the ROYAL PALACE, etc. Return to the hotel.
Dinner and accommodation.
8
Sept. 22: Cruise of the Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea
Breakfast and transfer to the port of Lavrio to start the cruise of the Greek Islands with Full Board on the
famous ship CELSTYAL OLYMPIA (to be confirmed). Departure at 01:00 pm to the island of Mykonos.
Arrival at 06:00 pm and free time for those who wish to disembark and explore part of this beautiful
island. Sailing at 11:00 pm towards Kusadasi (Turkey).
9
Sept. 23: Kusadasi – Patmos
Full Board. Arrival in Kusadasi at 07:00 am. Disembarkation and included guided visit to the
ancient city of Ephesus, a place of Paul’s apostolate and to whose inhabitants he directed an
important letter. Visit the traditional House of the Virgin with the possibility of celebrating Mass.
Return to the ship and sail to Patmos, the famous island where Saint John the Evangelist was
imprisoned and wrote the Book of Revelation. Included guided visit to the Monastery containing
the Cave where Saint John lived. Return to the ship and departure at 09:30 pm to Crete
10
Sept. 24: Heraklion (Crete) – Santorini
Full Board. Included guided visit, touring part of this island on foot. Visit to the Church of Saint Titus,
disciple of Saint Paul and first Bishop of Crete. Continue to visit the famous and ancient Venetian port,
the Basilica of Saint Mark with the medieval Monastery of Saint Catherine, and the Cathedral of Saint
Minas. Return to the ship and sail to Santorini. Arrival at 04:30 pm and free time to enjoy this beautiful
island. Return to the ship and departure at 09:30 pm for the Island of Rhodes.
11
Sept. 25: Rhodes
Full Board. Disembarkation and self-guided visit to the old part of this beautiful island. Sailing at
06:00 pm to the Port of Lavrio in Athens.
12
Sept. 26: Port of Lavrio - Corinth – Athens
Arrival at 06:00 hours. Breakfast and disembarkation. Departure for Corinth. On the third day of
arduous and long walking, Paul reached the isthmus of Corinth, now crossed by a 6-kilometer
canal. Coinciding with the Apostle’s death, Emperor Nero, fifteen years later, gave the first
blows with a golden mattock. Paul must have been greatly impressed, not only by its artistic
beauty but also because the date of its construction coincided with the destruction of Solomon’s
Temple in Jerusalem by the King of Babylon. Paul spent two years with the Corinthians, leaving
among them one of the most flourishing Christian communities he founded. Continue to the
famous Corinth Canal, a Roman work of the first century to connect the Ionian Sea with the
Aegean Sea. Return to the hotel in Athens, dinner, and accommodation.
13
Sept. 27: Athens - Istanbul
Breakfast at the hotel and at the scheduled time, transfer to the airport to board flight to Istanbul.
On arrival, if time allows, enjoy a panoramic drive through the new and old parts of Istanbul, and in due time go
to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
14
Sept. 28- Istanbul.
After breakfast, a full day dedicated to exploring the capital city of Turkey and its major monuments: The
Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, the Top Kapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Dinner and
overnight at your hotel.