March 1
Today we fly overnight from Toronto Pearson Airport to Athens.
March 2
Arrival in Athens Airport and take our domestic flight to Thessaloniki. With our arrival in Thessaloniki, we have entered into the world of the New Testament where St Paul and his companions established the first Christian communities throughout his four missionary journeys. On arrival, we will be met at the airport for a transfer to our hotel.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Thessaloniki.
March 3
Begin the day in the port of Kavala where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. This port was also a destination for Luke the evangelist when he sailed from Troas. See a Byzantine castle, the Roman Aqueduct, and the ruins of an acropolis. Follow the Via Egnatia, a remnant of Rome’s highway system, viewing Roman and Greek tombs and ruts of ancient chariot wheels. Next, stop in Philippi, where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the very first Christian convert on European soil. Among the ruins located on the rocky ledge above the town’s main road is the prison into which Paul and Silas were thrown. It was in Philippi that Octavian and Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Thessaloniki.
March 4
The New Testament books of I & II Thessalonians will come alive to us today as we tour in the delightful harbor city of Thessalonica. We will view the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. Also, we see the White Tower and the Basilica of St. Demetrius.
After our visit, we continue through the mountains to Meteora. Here, there are the world-famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Kalambaka.
March 5
Today we will include a special visit to Delphi, this mountainous city which today is both an archaeological site and a modern town. For the ancient Greeks, Delphi was labelled the “omphalos” (navel) of the earth, and it is here that the eternal flame burned in the Temple of Apollo. Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greekworld. It was also here beginning in 586 B.C. that athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, one of the precursors to the modern Olympics. After our visit, we continue back to Athens.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Athens.
March 6
This morning, we tour Athens, the foundation of democracy. We visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum before viewing Athens atop Mars Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation. From atop Mars Hill we view the Agora below, the ancient marketplace and center of Athenian public life. Additional sites viewed during our panoramic bus tour are, the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential Palace.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Athens.
March 7
Today, we visit ancient Corinth, the city that inspired many of Paul’s most familiar letters and is a highlight for the New Testament scholar. See the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. To enjoy a devotional in the midst of the ruins of the church of Corinth and see the pillars, steps, and public worship place where Paul preached will enhance your understanding and love for the Bible. The ruins of this important cultural center are fascinating as we walk along the stone path that the Apostle Paul walked. The engineering skill and intellect of these people are evident in the water systems that still flow from ancient to modern day.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Athens.
March 8
Today we enjoy our free day in the beautiful city of Athens.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Athens.
March 9
Following breakfast at our hotel, we are met by our English-speaking concierge for our private transfer to Athens Airport (ATH). We fly home.