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The
Journeys of Saint Paul &
the Growth of the Early Church
including a four day cruise
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 |
Greece |
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10
Days
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Thursday
- U.S. Departure: We depart today from the Chicago's O'Hare International
Airport on our trans-Atlantic flight. Meals will be served aloft.
Friday
- Zurich / Athens: Following our connecting flight from Zurich, we
will arrive in Athens. After being greeted by our guide, we will be
oriented to the city of Athens before check-in for our overnight.
The remainder of the day is free to relax, explore, or rest for the
exciting days ahead. (D)
Saturday
- Delphi Excursion: This morning we motor to Delphi, where the Oracles
held court. We will have a tour of the shrine, walk the "Sacred
Way" and visit the Sanctuary of Apollo and the Nine Muses. We
return to Athens for the overnight. (B, L)
Sunday
- Corinth / Mycenae / Epidaurus: Today we visit the ancient treasures
of Corinth. Here we will see the Temple of Apollo, and other sites
familiar to Paul as he brought the good news of Christianity to Corinth.
We then motor to the famous theatre of Epidaurus, and on to Mycenae,
a great city of the Minoan civilization. At the excavated palace we
will see the Lions Gate and the tombs of Agamemnon. We overnight in
Athens. (B, L)
Monday
- Set Sail / Mykonos: This morning we will be transferred to Piraeus,
the port of Athens. We board our Royal Olympic cruise ship, scheduled
to set sail at 11:00 A.M. After a relaxing time at sea, we arrive
at the port of Mykonos known for its dazzling white beauty and sophisticated
jet-set atmosphere. The ship sails at 10:00 P.M. (B, L, D)
Tuesday
- Kusadasi / Patmos: At 7:00 A.M. we dock in Kusadasi, the port for
the city of Ephesus - now a part of Turkey. Here our shore excursion
tour is included for us to see this ancient excavated city of the
New Testament. We walk Curetia Street over the same worn stones that
the Apostle once trod. The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven
Wonders of the World. We see the amphitheater where Paul preached
and the ruins of the church where the Council of Ephesus was held
in 431 AD, which declared Mary, "Mother of God". At noon,
we set sail for Patmos [Rev. 1;19]. It was here that St. John the
Divine - in exile - wrote the Book of Revelation, the mysterious,
prophetic book of the New Testament. An optional tour is available
to the monastery commemorating John's life here in about 95 A.D. At
6:30 P.M., we set sail. (B, L, D)
Wednesday
- Rhodes: Rhodes - mountainous, with scented forests of pine and fir
- was colonized at least a thousand years B.C. In the city of Rhodes
is a medieval town built by the Knights of St. John. An optional tour
is available which includes the Temple of Athena in the picturesque
village of Lindos. Our ship will set sail about 6:00 P.M. (B, L, D)
Thursday
- Heraklion / Santorini: Our morning port-of-call is Heraklion (Crete),
the largest of the Greek Isles and site of one of the world's earliest
civilizations. Here, you will have the opportunity to see the treasures
of one of Greece's finest museums or take an optional trip to Knossos,
fabled palace of the ancient Minoan kingdom. In the late morning,
we set sail for Santorini, perched on the rim of an ancient volcano
above the sparkling blue sea. The ship sails 8:30 p.m. (B, L, D)
Friday
- Piraeus / Athens: This morning our ship docks in Piraeus and after
breakfast we disembark. Then we tour Athens, the heart of both ancient
and modern Greece [see Acts 17 & 18 and I Thes. 3]. Called the
birthplace of Western culture, it is one of the world's most venerable
cities. The Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Archaeological Museum, the
Royal Palace - all provide insights into the glories of Greece. We
overnight in Athens. (B, D)
Saturday
- Athens / U.S.A.: Early this morning, we are transferred to the Athens
airport to begin our flights home - via Zurich. Meals will be served
on board.
|
The
Journeys of Saint Paul &
the Growth of the Early Church
including a seven day cruise
|
|
|
Greece |
|
|
|
14
Days
|
Wednesday
- U.S. Departure: Today, we begin our trans-Atlantic flight. Meals
will be served aloft.
Thursday
- Europe Gateway / Athens / Nauplion: Upon arrival in Athens, we'll
be greeted by our guide, and directed to our waiting coach. We'll
drive across the Corinth Canal to visit the ancient site of Mycena.
Overnight in the picturesque town of Nauplion. (D)
Friday
- Epidaurus / Corinth / Set Sail: This morning we visit Epidaurus
to view its famed theatre. Later, we continue to Corinth where we'll
visit the Odeum and the Rostra, where the Apostle Paul preached to
the Corinthians. We view the Corinth Canal and motor to the dock of
Piraeus, from where we set sail on the Royal Olympic cruise ship.
(B, D)
Saturday
- Istanbul: Today, after a leisurely day of sailing, we arrive in
Istanbul, Turkey. Late this afternoon, we may still be able to savor
the aroma of the spice market and bargain over ceramics, perfumes
or a carpet in the Grand Bazaar, or you may wish to visit some of
the exciting night spots of Istanbul on an optional tour. (B, L, D)
Sunday
- Istanbul: Today will be free for you to explore Istanbul on your
own. join an optional sightseeing tour including: Topkapi Palace,
the Blue Mosque, the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hagia.
We sail at 6pm. (B, L, D)
Monday
- Kusadasi: This afternoon we arrive in Kusadasi, the port for the
city of Ephesus - now a part of Turkey. Here the optional shore excursion
is to see this ancient excavated city of the New Testament. There
you will walk Curetia Street over the same worn stones that the Apostle
once trod. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the
world, and the amphitheater where Paul preached. (B, L, D)
Tuesday
- Patmos / Mykonos: At 6:00 A.M. we dock in Patmos. It was here that
St. John the Divine - in exile - wrote the Book of Revelation, the
mysterious, prophetic book of the New Testament. After a relaxing
time at sea, we arrive at Mykonos, known for its dazzling white beauty
and jet-set atmosphere. You may stroll through the white-washed, flower-decked
town and along the waterfront, or to the famous windmills. We sail
about 10:00 P.M. (B, L, D)
Wednesday
- Rhodes: The city of Rhodes is a medieval town built by the Knights
of St. John. An optional city tour is available which also visits
the Temple of Athena in the picturesque village of Lindos. We are
scheduled to sail at 6 P.M. (B, L, D)
Thursday
- Heraklion / Santorini: Our morning port-of-call is Heraklion on
Crete, site of one of the world's earliest civilizations. Here, you
will have the opportunity to take an optional trip to Knossos, fabled
palace of the ancient Minoan kingdom. In the late morning, we set
sail for Santorini, an ancient volcano high above the sparkling blue
sea. (B, L, D)
Friday
- Piraeus / Athens: We disembark at Piraeus. Then we tour Athens,
the heart of both ancient and modern Greece. Called the birthplace
of Western culture, it is one of the world's most venerable cities.
The Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Archaeological Museum, the Royal
Palace - all provide insights into the glories of Greece. Tonight,
we'll enjoy a special dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Athens.
(B, D)
Saturday
- Delphi Excursion: This morning we motor to Delphi, via the Byzantine
Monastery of Ossios Loukas. Delphi, with its looming golden red cliffs
2,000 ft. above the Bay of Corinth, is where the Oracles held court.
We will have a tour of the shrine, walk the "Sacred Way"
and visit the Sanctuary of Apollo and the Nine Muses. Overnight Athens.
(B)
Sunday - Athens / U.S.A.: Early this morning, we are transferred to
the Athens airport for our return flights to the U.S. (B)
CB
- Continental Breakfast
B - Breakfast
L - Lunch
D - Dinner
SD - Special Dinner
