An Eight (8) Day Christian tour, following Paul's footsteps

An Eight (8) Day Christian tour, following Paul’s footsteps

A Christian Tour which will take you to the Corinth Canal, ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplion, Epidaurus, Olympia, Levadia, Delphi, Arachova, Kalambaka, Amphisa, Lamia, Trikala, Meteora, byzantine monasteries of Meteora, Vergina, Dion, Thessaloniki, Phillipi, Kavala and back to Athens.

Day 1: Athens

Athens taxi tours start’s your Athens private tour visiting the city of Athens, We begin our city tour by visiting the site of some of the most exquisite pieces of architecture in the world, the world-renowned Acropolis of Athens, which includes a visit to the Parthenon and The Erechtheion, The Temple of Nike, MARS HILL (Areopagus th Hill of Ares) where Apostle Paul delivered his well known sermon (Acts 17:22). Your private tour ends with the highlights of modern Athens: passing by the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, Presidential Mansion, Panathenian Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic games in 1896), Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Academy, the University and the National Library. The area of Monastiraki, the Plaka, the Ancient Greek agora, the Roman agora one of the many museums (we recommend The Byzantine Museum), and enjoy the wonderful panoramic view of Athens and Piraeus port from LycabettusHill, the highest pick in the city. In the afternoon we will continue our Athens private tour by visiting the Monastery of Daphne with the most beautiful Mosaics ever, founded in the 11th century A.D. The monastery is situated just a few minutes drive outside the city. The rest of the afternoon is at your disposal to explore the lively city of Athens on your own. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 2 Itinerary: Athens – Corinth canal – ancient Corinth – Athens

The next and second day, we will travel to Corinth, – Greece. In Corinth St. Paul spent 18 plus 3months preaching the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles. The site is overlooked by the Acrocorinth. In Corinth, St. Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla making tents, The community he founded here caused him much grief and prompted him to address at least three letters to the Corinthians, one is lost. St. Paul`s trial by Gallio took place in the agora (Acts 18:12-17). It is from Corinth, also, that St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. We celebrate our liturgy today in Corinth with a reflection on Paul the Missionary. We will visit the ruins of Kenchreae, the harbour from which St. Paul sailed for Ephesus (Acts 18:18). Continuing our Greece private tour we will drive on to Mycenae, site of the Cyclopean walls. The walls are called cyclopean because they were thought to have been built by the mythical gigantic Cyclopes. The famous Lion Gate and the beehive tombs were excavated (1876-1878) by the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann and they are known locally as the Treasury of Atreus and the Tomb of Clytemnestra. Visit the tomb of Agamemnon (King of Mycenae and leader of the allied Achaean forces that sailed against Troy). Our tour continues to Nafplion, the first capital of Greece after its liberation from the Ottoman Empire following the Revolution in 1821). michael‘s tours will drive you to Epidaurus home of the one of the world`s best-preserved amphitheaters, with remarkable acoustics. We end our Tour taking the same route back to Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 3 Itinerary: Athens – Delphi – Meteora

After breakfast Michael‘s Greek tours will drive us to Delphi. Delphi was one of the two most important cultural centers in ancient Greece. People journeyed to Delphi from all over the ancient world to participate in religious ceremonies and to consult the oracle before making important decisions. It was to the Delphic oracle, that King Croesus of Sardis sent messengers to request guidance from the gods about whether he should go to war against Cyrus the Great. The oracle`s response was ambivalent – If you attack Cyrus a great an empire will fall – Croesus misinterpreted, He attacked but his own empire fell. Even if Delphi were not so crucial for understanding the mythology, religion, history and literature of ancient Greece, the beauty of the place would demand that we pause and contemplate. We continue our private tour visiting the site and museum. Lunch I Delphi or Arachova, a picturesque snow ski resort. After lunch our driver will drive us to Meteora. Dinner and overnight in Meteora or Kastraki.

Day 4 Itinerary: Meteora – Thessaloniki

In the morning Michael‘s Greek tours will drive on to Meteora, an area of unexplained rock formations rising from the plain. You will wind your way through a forest of gigantic needle-like pillars, some as high as 1,820 feet above sea level. Back in the 14th century these inaccessible pinnacles offered a safe refuge to pious hermits and were later used as sites for hermits. We will visit Meteora Monasteries famous for their Byzantine museums perched precariously on huge finger-like rocks, exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes.

The most important monasteries of Meteora are:

The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron. It is the biggest of the Meteorite monasteries.
The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery after the Great Meteoro.
The Holy Monastery of Rousanou. It is dedicated to ‘The Transfiguration’ but consecratedto Saint Barbara.
The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas. It is the first we will come across on our way from Kastraki to Meteora.
The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen. It is one of the most easily accessible, as one does not have to climb innumerable steps to reach it.
The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is very difficult to reach. The visitor has to cross the valley and continue high up through the rock before we arrive outside the entrance.

After Lunch we will drive to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Thessaloniki

After breakfast we’ll travel with our Michel’s Greek tour driver to the city of Thessaloniki founded about 315 BC by Cassander, brother-in-law of Alexander the Great, where St. Paul wrote two letters to the ancient Thessalonians. St. Paul established the first church here (Acts 17:1-10). Ruins of an early Christian church are near the Palace of Galerius. In St. Paul’s letters to this community we see his unbounded determination to continue the Church. We will also visit the church and crypt of St. Demetrius and the church of St. Sophia. Michael‘s Greek tour will drive to the upper part of the Old City Walls where you will have excellent views of the city and the opportunity to take pictures. Continue this private tour driving to the Vlatadon Monastery visit. Your tour will end with a drive of the city viewing the White Tower and the Triumphal Arch of Galerius standing on the Egnatian Way. Afternoon free.

Day 6 Itinerary: Veria -Vergina

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, you will depart Thessaloniki with Michael‘s Greek tours and drive south toward Beroia . Following St. Paul’s footsteps in his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul successfully preached to the Jewish community in Beroia after fleeing Thessaloniki. In Veria, you will view reconstructed steps of the bema stand (pulpit) commemorating the place where Paul was believed to have preached. Continue our private tour to Vergina (ancient Aigai), the first capital of Macedonia, we will visit one of the most important tombs of Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. We will arrive late in the afternoon in Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7 Itinerary: Philippi – Kavala (Neapolis)

In the morning, you will depart Thessaloniki with Michael‘s Greek tours for a full day excursion to Philippi named after King Philip II of Macedonia, where St. Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe and sowed the seeds of Christianity. Paul and Silas came to Philippi on their second missionary journey and St. Paul returned on his third (Acts 20:2-6). It was here that Paul baptized a woman named Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe. The Roman Forum here, completely excavated, was built after Paul`s time. You will walk among the ruins, located on the rocky ledge above the town`s main road and view the Prison where St. Paul and Silas were thrown after exorcizing a spirit from a slave girl. On 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 continuing our private tour is the modern port city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis, where St. 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. 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 Minaret, the lighthouse (which provides an amazing, full view of Kavala), the castle with its tower, and the famous Kamares, 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. The ruins of ancient Neapolis were built upon and the site became known as Christopolis because St. Paul traveled there in 50 A.D. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 Itinerary: Thessaloniki

Early in the morning Michael‘s Greek tours will drive us back to Athens passing through the towns of Thessaloniki, Katerini, Tembi mountains, Larisa, Lamia, Thermopylae (visit the monument of Leonidas and the 300 Spartans) and we will end this tour following the footsteps of St. Paul in Athens late in the afternoon.

You can customize this private tour at any time, either on the way together with your private chauffeur or in advance by contacting our Michael‘ Greek tours.