The Growth of the Early Church

A 13-Day Pilgrimage to Istanbul - Troy - Pergamum - Ephesus - Delphi - Corinth and Athens; including a Three-Day Greek Island & Turkey Cruise

from $2,495 (from New York) St. Paul's missionary journeys took him great distances, from Syria through Turkey, and along the Greek coast, as he spread the good news in rich trading centers on his prayerful missions. In the shadows of the Parthenon, St. Paul addressed the people of Athens about the “Unknown God.” Follow in his footsteps and retrace the roots of early Christianity. Visit Ephesus, where St. Paul made his European headquarters for two years. Visit Rhodes, Herkalion, Santorini, Delphi and Corinth. This historical and spiritual tour will give you new perspective on the Church, as you learn about its earliest days, and the lives of the first Christians.

ITINERARY

Day 1> USA/Turkey

Day 2> Arrive Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul, the city that strides two continents and once was the seat of power for two world empires, the Byzantine and the Ottoman.
Overnight at hotel in Istanbul.

Day 3> Highlights Tour of Istanbul
Celebrate Mass at St. Anthony’s Church in Istanbul. Full day sightseeing tour of the Ottoman highlights including the Blue Mosque, Saint Sophia, the Hippodrome, Imperial Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4> Istanbul - Troy - Canakkale
Celebrate Mass at St. Anthony’s Church in Istanbul. Following a scenic route through sun flower and wheat fields, continue with an exploration of the excavation of Ancient Troy. Troy is the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and Trojan Horse, and was destroyed and rebuilt nine times.
Overnight in Assos on the Aegean Sea.

Day 5> Behramkle - Pergamum - Ephesus
Celebrate early Mass in Assos. Enjoy a scenic drive to Ephesus, stopping at the ruins in the little village of Behramkle. Continue to Pergamum, the capital of the Hellenistic Kingdom was famous for its health center, Asclepium, and the Altar of Zeus in its Acropolis. Continue to Ephesus. Upon arrival, visit the museum and explore its major finds from the archaeological excavation.
Overnight at hotel in Ephesus.

Day 6> Full day in Ephesus
Visit Ephesus, the ancient capital of Asia Minor, and the best preserved of the original 7 Churches of Revelation.  Visit the House of the Virgin Mary where St. John brought Mary to Ephesus after the death of Christ. Celebrate Mass at the Chapel Panaya Kapula, builg on the Mount Setimisses.
After Mass, visit the Bazaar in Kusadasi.
Overnight at hotel in Ephesus.

Day 7> Kusadasi/Board the Greek Island Cruise
This morning, you will be transferred to the pier of Kusadasi to embark for the three day Aegean Classic Cruise aboard the Olympic Countess of Royal Olympic Cruises. This afternoon, you will arrive at Patmos, an island sacred for Christians. Visit the Monastery of St. John and the Grotto where the author of the Book of Revelation received his first vision (Rev. 1:9).
Dinner and overnight aboard the Cruise Ship.

Day 8> Rhodes
Today enjoy a full day in Rhodes. On a hill above the charming town of Lindos rises an ancient acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena. Below lies the bay of St. Paul, where it is believed the apostle stopped near the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 21:1) as he returned to Caesaria. Celebrate Mass in Rhodes.
Overnight aboard the Cruise Ship.

Day 9> Heraklion (Crete) - Santorini
Arrive at Heraklion, the capital of Crete and its principal commercial port. Celebrate Mass. The fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion displays many of the treasures found during the excavations. Lunch on board.
Afternoon arrival at Santorini. Take a donkey ride up the zigzag path to the cliff top village for a splendid panoramic view.
Overnight aboard the Cruise Ship.

Day 10> Arrive Piraeus - Corinth - Patros
Arrive Piraeus and disembark your cruise ship. Your guide will take you to Corinth, where St. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, arrived in A.D. 50-51 to preach the Christian faith.  Mass will be celebrated in the excavations where St. Paul preached.
Drive alongside the canal, proceed to Patras.
Overnight at hotel in Patras.

Day 11> Delphi - Athens
Celebrate early Mass. After Mass, cross by ferry to the mainland to visit Delphi, one of the most magical sites in Greece and seat of the most famous oracle in antiquity. Visit the Sanctuary of Apollo and explore the Museum, whose collection includes the bronze masterpiece, “The Charioteer.” Visit the Ossios Loukas Monastery. Also visit the Agios Georgios to see its famous dome and 5th century mosaics. Continue to Athens, the most important city-state in ancient Greece, and the capital of modern Greece since 1834. Overnight at hotel in Athens.

Day 12> AM/Highlights of Athens - PM/At leisure
Celebrate Mass in Athens. Visit the Acropolis, and the famed Parthenon -- for centuries the symbol of Athens. In the ancient part of the town next to the Acropolis there rises the gray flat-topped rock of the Areopagus. Here in the shadow of the Parthenon, St. Paul addressed the people of Athens about the “Unknown God.” Visit the National Archeological Museum with its fabulous treasures of Greek art. Balance of the day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel in Athens.

Day 13> Return to the USA