Turkey, Aegean Cruise and Greece Group
Footsteps of St. Paul with Seven Churches
12 Days
Tour cost begins from $2,890.00 plus Airline taxes
Athens, Corinth, Aegean Cruise,
Seven Churches of Asia Minor, Ephesus, Troy, Istanbul
ITINERARY:
Day 1, Saturday, DEPARTURE
You’ll leave from US with an overnight Flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Day 2, Sunday, ISTANBUL
Welcome to Turkey. You are greeted by your tour guide and transferred to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3, Monday, ISTANBUL
After breakfast, 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. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4, Tuesday, ISTANBUL, CANAKKALE-TROY
After breakfast, we will drive along the Sea of Marmara to Canakkale. We will cross the Dardanelles, where you will see Gallipoli, the famous site of World War I battle. Visit Troy and see the city made famous in Homer’s poems, as the center of the Trojan War, including the legendary Trojan Horse. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.
Day5, Wednesday, CANAKKALE, TROY, PERGAMUM, EPHESUS
After breakfast, drive by Troas, where Paul had a vision in which he was called to Macedonia (Greece). Visit 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 see Asclepion, from distance one of the foremost healing centers of the ancient world. Dinner and overnight in Ephesus.
Day 6, Thursday, EPHESUS, VIRGIN MARY’S HOUSE
After breakfast, 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 Ephesus.
Day 7, Friday, EPHESUS, ST. JOHN, PAMUKKALE
After breakfast, we will have Mass at the Basilica of St. John and visit his tomb. Then proceed to the spa city of Pamukkale; see the cascading water from the cliffs forming crystallized, dazzling white “frozen waterfalls “.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 Ephesus.
Day 8, Saturday, EPHESUS, KUSADASI, PATMOS
After breakfast, we will embrace cruise ship. Our first stop is the sacred island of Patmos, where John received the mystical Revelation, which forms the last book of the New Testament. The optional excursion takes you to the Grotto of the Revelation. And the 11-century Monastery of St. John (which houses the original script of the Gospel).
Day 9, Sunday, HERAKLION, SANTORINI
This morning we ship will stop at Greek island of Heraklion. Heraklion is the home of fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. Visit the island on your own or take an optional trip offered by the cruise line. Afternoon we will visit the Island of Santorini. This island is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. In the town of Thira white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to steep cliffs, accessible by cable-car or mule. Visit the island on your own or take an optional trip offered by the cruise lines.
Day 10, Monday, PIRAEUS, ATHENS
After arriving to the mainland of Greece we will 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 delivered his great sermon. You will visit the ancient town of Acropolis to see the Parthenon, the theater of Dionyssos, the Temple of the Wingless Victory and other sights, which reflect the golden age of Greece. Dinner and overnight Athens.
Day 11, Tuesday, ATHENS, CORINTH, ATHENS
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 12, Wednesday, ATHENS, USA,
After breakfast, we will take a flight to home.
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Tour Features:
- Round trip transatlantic airfare from JFK, New York
- Accommodations in first class hotels with private bathroom
- Standard inside cabin on cruise
- Daily breakfast and dinner, full meals while on cruise
- Guided sightseeing as indicated in itinerary
- Entrance fees
- Professional tour director
- Baggage handling
- Hotel taxes, service charges
- Daily mass arrangements
Tour Map
If you don’t see an itinerary you like, tell us and we’ll gladly customize one to meet your requirements.
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