DAY 1: ATHENS – THERMOPYLAE’S – VLATADON MONASTERY OF ST. PAUL – THESSALONIKI
We pick you up from your hotel at 08.00, our first stop will be at Thermopylae where you will see the statue of Leonidas as a memorial for the famous battle of the 300 Spartans against the Persian army . Expected arrival time at Thessaloniki around 14.30. Check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time for yourself. In the afternoon we will visit the Vlatadon Monastery that the Apostle Paul stopped there to drink water. Believers from all over the world come to visit the Monastery and enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of Thermaikos Gulf & Thessaloniki. In the evening we suggest that you taste the delicious Greek cuisine, or to walk on the promenade of the city, the second largest city of Greece! Overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 2: THESSALONIKI – FILIPPOI – KAVALA
After breakfast, we meet you at your hotel and Explore Thessaloniki, where Paul preached and wrote two epistles to the Thessalonians during the winters of 49-50 AD. See the ramparts of the city: the triumphal Arch of Galerius, built in 303 AD, at the Via Egnatia The Rotonda is one of the most imposing monuments of the city of Thessaloniki. Visits St. Demetrius Basilica church with the most important part of the temple, an underground ancient “Crypt”. According to the Christian Tradition, St. Demetrius dyed here.
Another of the city’s Gem of devotion, is The Acheiropoietos Church – The Acheiropoietos Church owes its name to an icon of the Virgin Mary, (‘Acheiropoietos’ meaning “made not by human hands “), which was kept in the church. It is one of the first churches founded sometime between 450 and 475 AD. We depart Thessaloniki towards Kavala, where we visit Filippi, where St, Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians in Europe! Visit the ”Baptismal” site, where Lydia was the first European woman to be baptized, and the secret crypt where Paul was prisoned in.
We visit the Acropolis of Philippi, visit the theatre, Basilica and the prison were Apostle Paul and Silas where imprisoned. Drive into the modern city of Kavala the “ancient Neapolis” where Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy, first set foot in Europe, have lunch in the town of Kavala. Overnight in Kavala.
DAY 3: KAVALA – VEROIA – VERGINA – METEORA
Starting at 08.00 we will pick you up from your hotel to drive to the most beautiful city of Veroia at Northwestern Greece. We visit the church of Apostle Paul. We will visit also the “BEMA of Apostle Paul”, the BEMA used by Paul to preach to the people, one of his most beloved cities for many days. We then drive on to the Ancient city of Vergina and to the King’s tombs, one of them belonging to PHILLIP, father of Alexander the Great and ex-king, and we drive on to finally arrive at Kalambaka. Overnight in Kalambaka (Meteora).
DAY 4: METEORA – DELPHI
At 09.00 we pick you up from your hotel and we will visit the MONASTERIES of Meteora, that are included on the UNESCO world heritage monument list. Our first stop will be at The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron which is the biggest and oldest of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in midair” (Meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built. Our second visit is at the great monastery of St. Stephen. The Monastery of St. Stephen, which is a small church built in the 16th century and decorated in 1545. We could visit another Monastery if you wish. We will leave Meteora around 13.30 towards Delphi. We should reach Delphi around 17:00 check in at your hotel and enjoy your free time for yourself. Overnight in Delphi.
DAY 5: DELPHI – MONASTERY OF SAINT LOUKAS – ATHENS
At 09.00 we will pick you up from your hotel to visit Castalia Spring. We will visit also the archaeological site of Delphi, the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle and Delphi museum. Its spectacular exhibits include the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos the metopes of the Athenian treasury, the famous bronze Charioteer, originally created to commemorate a victory during the 476 B.C. Pythian Games, and many other artifacts. The next visit will be at the wonderful Byzantine Monastery of St. Loukas. The Monastery of Saint Loukas is an 11th century monastery. This monastery is the epitome of the Byzantine architecture while it is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. You will have lunch at the traditional taverna, before we return to Athens late in the afternoon. Overnight in Athens.
DAY 6: CHRISTIAN TOUR IN ATEHNS & ANCIENT CORINTH
We will pick you up from your hotel at 08.00 to start the wonderful Christian tour in Athens. We will visit the ancient Agora which was the heart of Athens in antiquity and the meeting point of Saint Paul with the first followers of Christianity in Athens. The next step will be the “Mars Hill”, where Apostle Paul proclaimed the word of the Christian God to the Athenian philosophers. The element that caused a shock to some Athenians was the concept of Resurrection, which was a powerful argument in the truth of St Paul’s teaching.
We will then reach the coastal district of Palaio Faliro. This is the area where St Paul arrived with the escort of Beroia after his departure from Beroia and Thessaloniki. Of course, in combination with our Christian tour we will have a panoramic city tour in Athens (visit the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the most important sights of the city, The Stadium, Parliament House, Presidential Guards, Athens Trilogy.
CHRISTIAN TOUR IN ANCIENT CORINTHOS
We will continue driving along the mainland coast to Peloponnese and our first stop will be at the Canal of Corinth (6 km length and 80m height). Next we will continue to reach Ancient Corinth where Saint Paul lived and preached for more then 21 months of his life. You will have the chance to visit the Ancient Market, the Bema of Apostle Paul, and you will walk at the same paths the Apostle of Nations walked and preached hundreds of years earlier. Next stop will be at Cenchreas Port from where Paul sailed off to Effesos. Then we drive to Athens thus ending our Journey.
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.
