Greece Only Tour, June 5 to 16, 2004
Greece and Turkey Tour, June 5 to 19, 2004

Arrive in Athens, one of the most important cities in the ancient world and site of the Olympics. Learn of St. Paul who visited and preached there of the “unknown God.”

An all day tour of Athens with the ruins of the Parthenon, Erectheum, and Propylae; the Mars Hill with view of the Agora (the ancient market place where Paul spoke). Acropolis and Museum:

Ancient Corinth where Paul preached and lived for two years. The Gentile church that he founded there in 50 C.E. caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters to them. We will visit the ancient ruins where Paul worked with Priscilla and Aquila. We will see the remains of the first century shops, the agora where Paul was on trial at the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo, and visit the museum. Link

We will see Cenchrea, the ancient port of Corinth and Epidauros: Link

Go to the Island of Aegina and there learn more of Byzantine art and music.

Drive to Delphi, the navel of the earth! Ancient centers such as Jerusalem and Delphi were called the “omphalos,” the navel because they connect humans with primal spiritual life. On the slopes of Mount Parmassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. The famous women oracles of Delphi indicate feminine spiritual leadership. Link

Continue drive to Kalambaka with its pointed pinnacles and massive crags towering above the town.

Tour Meteora with its famous monasteries among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks, which seem to be suspended in mid-air. Meteora means “hanging between heaven and earth.” We will visit three of these ageless monasteries which are the home of exquisite specimens of Byzantine icons and other art. Link

We will drive on to Tessalonike passing through Vergina. In Vergina, ancient Beria, is a memorial to Paul who preached to the Jewish community in 54 C.E. (Acts 17:10-13) Part of the Roman road, the Egnatia Way is still visible.

Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece today, is where Paul lived and preached during the winters of 49-50. He wrote two of his epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. We will see the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire. Link

Philippi was the first place that Paul visited in Europe and he always had particular affection for the people there, writing, “I thank my God when I think of you. . . and when I pray, I pray with joy.” He baptized a woman named Lydia, the first Christian in Europe who then became a leader. We will see the Roman Forum and the prison where Paul and Silas were held on the rocky ledge above the town’s main road. Link We drive on to Kavala, ancient Neapolis where Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy first set foot in Europe.

Drive from Kavala in Greece to the border of Turkey, cross through Customs, and then drive on to Istanbul on the Bosphorus Sea which separates Asia from Europe. This cross roads of the continents was called Constantinople for the Roman emperor and then Byzantium as it became the eastern center of an empire.

An all day tour of Istanbul will include the Blue Mosque built by Sultan Ahmet I in 1616; the ancient Hippodrome where Roman chariot races took place; Haggia Sophia, originally a church conceived by Constantine and rebuilt by Justinian in 532, which was converted into a mosque and now is a museum; Topkapi Palace, home to the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years and now a museum.

Monuments
Museums
Mosques

We will visit the Grand Covered Bazar, the world famous shopping area that dates back to the fifteen century and has over 2000 shops. Istanbul is famous for selling spices, so look at your cook books and make a list of what you need!

Drive to Troy and Cannakale. Homer was born in Troy. Check out the Iliad and the Odyssey and don’t let anyone give you a gift horse! Some of the most spectacular archeological sites are along the rugged Aegean coast of Turkey.

Go to Kusadasi and visit ancient Ephesus mentioned in Revelations 1:11, 2:1-7; Acts 18:19-28, 19:1-41. Paul spent two years there. The epistle to the Ephesians is attributed to Paul. We will tour the Odeon, the Marble Street, the Celsius Library, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Great Theater where Paul spoke. He will also see the area where he was imprisoned because he spoke against the gods whose shrines brought wealth to the city.

Then we will visit the Double Church of St. Mary where the Third Ecumenical Council, the Council of Ephesus in 431, declared Mary the Theotokos. We will see the Temple of Diana, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We will visit the ancient basilica of St. John and the legendary cottage where Mary was said to have lived her last years. Link

Fly back to Istanbul and to the U.S.

Day-by-Day Schedule

Greece Only Tour, June 6 to 17, 2004
June 5 Depart US ( San Antonio , TX to Chicago , IL , to Europe and then Athens )
June 6 Arrive in Athens-transfer to hotel
June 7 Athens city tour, Acropolis, Mars Hill, Agora and Benaki Museum
June 8 Visit the Island of Aegina
June 9 Corinth/Epidaurus tour
June 10 Visit Delphi continue to Meteora
June 11 Visit Meteora, Vergina and overnight in Thessaloniki
June 12 Thessaloniki city and church tour
June 13 Philippi and Kavala (overnight may be back in Thessaloniki )
June 14 Drive from Thessaloniki to Athens
June 15 Free day in Athens
June 16 Depart for US

Greece and Turkey Tour, June 5 to 19, 2004
Day 1 Depart from the US
Day 2 Arrive Athens
Day 3 Athens City Tour. Overnight Athens.
Day 4 Aegina. Return to Athens for overnight.
Day 5 Corinth/Epidaurus tour. Return to Athens for overnight.
Day 6 Visit Delphi. Continue to Meteora for overnight.
Day 7 Visit Meteora. Continue to Vergina. Drive to Thessaloniki for overnight.
Day 8 Thessaloniki city and church tour. Overnight Thessaloniki.
Day 9 Visit Philippi, Kavala. Overnight Kavala.
Day 10 Continue to border for crossing into Turkey. Drive to Istanbul for overnight.
Day 11 Full day Istanbul. Overnight.
Day 12 Visit Troy. Continue to Canakkale for overnight.
Day 13 Visit Pergamum. Continue to Izmir for overnight.
Day 14 Visit Philadelphia, Sardis, continue to Pamukkale for overnight.
Day 15 Visit Hierapolis, Ephessos. Continue to Kusadasi for overnight.
Day 16 Depart from Izmir airport to Istanbul airport and continue on to US.