Footsteps of St. Paul / 8 Days / 13 Days / 13 Day Plus Cruise

Athens, Thessaloniki, Philippi, Corinth - 8 days

Day 1 - Canada / Athens
Depart Canada for Greece. Overnight flight with meals served on board.

Day 2 - Athens
Upon arrival in Athens, we are met, assisted and transferred to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 3 - Athens
Today we will see the most significant sights of this glorious city: the temple of the Olympic Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Parliament and the Constitution Square. See the tomb of the unknown soldier, the Presidential Palace, the Academy, the University and National Library. We will visit the magnificent Parthenon and Mars Hill from where we have a nice view of the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life) where Paul spoke to the Athenians. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 4 - Veria / Thessaloniki
Start our tour to Northern Greece through the beautiful countryside. We stop at Veria (Beroea) for a short visit to the monument to Paul. Continue to the second largest city of Greece, Thessaloniki, founded in 315 BC by Kassandros, and named after his wife and sister of Alexander the Great. Paul visited Thessaloniki with Silas and Luke and founded a church here. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

Day 5 - Philippi / Thessaloniki
Visit Philippi where Marc Anthony defeated Brutus and Paul first preached the Gospel in Europe. Also, it was here in Philippi where Paul baptized a woman named Lydia, making her the first Christian in Europe. See the archaeological site (Forum Romanum) the ruins of two Basilicas, the theatre, the Prison of Paul and St. Lydia's Baptistry. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

Day 6 - Thessaloniki
A tour of Thessaloniki includes the Rotonda, the Triumphal Arch of Galerius, the seafront promenade with the White Tower as well as the museum where valuable treasures are exhibited from all over Greece and especially from the excavations in Vergina. We drive to Athens, arriving in late evening. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 7 - Corinth
We drive to Corinth, passing the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Short stop to see the Isthmus and continue to ancient Corinth, a most important city in the days of Paul. The vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least several 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's trial by Gallio took place, the Fountain of Peirene, the Temple of Apollo and the Bema. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 - Canada
Transfer to the airport for departure to Canada or extensions to other countries in the area