ITINERARY

Day 2 THESSALONIKI
We arrive in the capital of Northern Greece, the second most important city after Athens. We are greeted at the airport and take a short ride to a fine hotel, where we will have a free evening and adjust to the time change.

Day 3 PHILIPPI - KAVALA - AMPHIPOLIS - THESSALONIKI
Sightseeing begins with a visit to Kavalla, Greece's loveliest mainland port with a most elegant harbor, in Paul’s time called Neapolis. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Luke, the Evangelist, came here from Troas. This ancient city was later renamed Christoupolis because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known since the 15th century as Kavalla. Continue to Philippi where we will hear the story of the baptism of Lydia near the stream where this happened---the first Christians convert on European soil. A crypt dating from the Roman period is thought to have served as a prison for St. Paul. We will see the this and the ancient theater, where we will hear the story of Paul’s arrest, imprisonment and miraculous release. We will see the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre. We travel to Amphipolis where we will see the ruins of many Christian basilicas. We return to Thessaloniki for overnight.

Day 4 THESSALONIKI
The New Testament books of I and II Thessalonians are Paul's correspondence with the people of this church. We will visit the old city ramparts, the Archaeological Museum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church, and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. We will also see two of the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St. Demetrius, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert and St. Sophia—hearing stories of Paul’s experiences there as well as excerpts of his “talking letters”—as they would have been experienced in his time.

Day 5 THESSALONIKI - BOROEA - KALAMBAKA - METEORA
We depart this morning by way of Boroea, where Paul established a small church. We hear the story told at the Bema from which Paul is said to have taught in the synagogue there. Then we depart for Meteora in western Thessaly, where world famous Byzantine monasteries perch precariously on summits of grey rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in cliffside caves, then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters later transformed into monasteries. We will visit two of these picturesque monasteries.

Day 6 KALAMBAKA - DELPHI - ATHENS
Delphi is an ancient city of fame and wealth considered by early Greeks to be the center of the world. The exact age of Delphi is not known, but it is mentioned by Homer. Our visit will take we along the sacred way to the Athenian Treasury, the Theatre, and the Temple of Apollo, of which six columns have been restored similar in design to the Parthenon. We will also visit the famous Archaeological Museum where, among other treasures, we will see the unique 5th century B.C. bronze charioteer. A stop for some shopping for Greek woven goods, and then we continue to Athens for overnight.