Depart from the USA for a transatlantic flight to Athens.
 

Friday, June 02: Arrival Athens - Embarkation

Arrive in Athens. Meet and greet at the airport. Drive to Piraeus Port and embark our cruise ship, enjoying the fellowship of other Christians and excellent teaching.

 

Saturday, June 03: Thessaloniki - Veria

Thessaloniki - The second largest city in Greece, and the capital of Macedonia. Paul preached here and founded a church. The New Testament books of Thessalonians are his correspondence with the people of this church.
Paul preached in Thessaloniki during the winters of 49-50 AD and wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. See the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire, the House of Jason and the Roman Agora where Paul preached.
We shall also see St. Demetrios Church with its valuable mosaics and frescoes and will drive up to the upper town, which offers a marvelous view of the city. The site where the monastery of Vlatadon was built is believed to be the location where Jasons house once stood and where Paul was accommodated during his visit to Thessaloniki.

Journey to Veria - ancient Beria - to the memorial commemorating Pauls preaching to the local Jews in 54 AD. Still visible today in Veria, is part of the Roman road - the Egnatia Way - its remains a silent witness to Romes greatness.
 

Sunday, June 04: Kavala - Phillipi

We call at Kavala (ancient Neapolis) where Paul, Timothy and Silas landed on the coast of Thrace. From there, visit Philippi, named after Philip II, father of Alexander. It was here that Paul won his first European convert, a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira.
Visit the Baptistery of Lydia, the market place (where Paul and Silas were brought before the rulers) the cistern which tradition identifies as the place where Paul was imprisoned.
 

Monday, June 05: Dikili - Pergamon

A tour from Dikili (our port) is to Pergamos, the great city of Bergama and a city of the Book of Revelation. It is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in Turkey. The letter in Revelation 'to an angel of the church at Pergamum' was from 'the One who has the sharp, two-edged sword.' He spoke of the place where Satan has his throne. This might be the altar of Zeus in the citadel; it is more likely that it refers to the fact that the city was center of the Roman authority for the area and therefore the place of persecution for those who refused to worship Caesar.
 

Tuesday, June 06: Kusadasi - Sardis - Miletus

We arrive at Kusadasi, a beautiful town where we will remain docked for the next two days. From here we will make our excursions. Today, we visit Sardis, the most picturesque of the Seven Churches. John told the Christians of Sardis that the letter in Revelation was from 'the One who holds the seven spirits of God, the seven stars.' He admonished them to 'wake-up, and put some strength into what is left.' We will view the ruins which included the famous temple of Artemis lying along the Pactolus River and dates from the Fourth Century BC. Continue for a tour of Miletus. Paul and his companions traveled via Mytilene, Chios and Samos to Miletus where Paul delivered his touching farewell address to the elders of Ephesus and predicted his death.
 

Wednesday, June 07: Ephesus - Smyrna

Our tour today takes us to Ephesus, the most impressive archaeological site in Turkey. Extensive excavations have facilitated the restoration of old Ephesus. From the harbor a thirty-five foot wide marble-paved and pillar-lined street led into the interior of the city. The Apostle Paul would have approached the city through this street, entering it through the northern gate, called the Magnesian. Paul suffered many trials and tribulations in Ephesus, leading finally to his imprisonment.

We then proceed to Biblical Smyrna, birthplace of the famous epic poet, Homer.
 

Thursday, June 08: Patmos

The island of Patmos is considered an 'Holy Island' for the Christian faith since this is the site of the apocalyptic Revelation of John, written here during exile from the Roman Empire. The cave where he lived is near the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. The Monastery of St. John, built on one of the islands highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its treasury.
 

Friday, June 09: Disembark Athens - Corinth

Disembark the cruise ship and begin the tour of Athens, the Acropolis, agora and Mars Hill. Visit Acropolis to see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erechtheum and Propylae. We shall also visit Mars Hill, view the Agora (the ancient market place where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians). We will also see the House of Parliament, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Presidential Palace, Hadrian's Arch and the Panathenaic Stadium.

We will continue to ancient Corinth. Here under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Paul preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of first-century shops, the agora where Paul was on trial at the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo, and visit the museum filled with treasures from the ancient sites. We return to Athens for dinner and overnight.
 

Saturday, June 10: Depart Athens

This morning we leave Athens and the marvelous sites of the New Testament and return to the U.S. From now on, as we read our Bibles or hear our pastors teach on the Books of the New Testament, we will feel the Bible come alive and enjoy vivid memories of our wonderful Footsteps of Paul and Revelation Alive cruise.
 

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