Itinerary
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
DEPART USA
See the Arrival and Departure link for additional information.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
ARRIVE IN THESSALONIKI
You are scheduled to arrive at the Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) shortly before 2:00 PM. Our Greece guide will meet you after customs and baggage claim with an ""EMMAUS" sign. We will have a bus journey of about 3 hours to Kavala.
Overnight: Kavala (D, B)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
NEAPOLIS, PHILIPPI, AMPHIPOLIS
When Paul received his vision and “call” while at Troas (Turkey) to come to Macedonia and share the gospel, he traveled by ship and arrived at Neapolis (Acts16:7-9). Our journey today will follow in Paul’s footsteps as he made his way on the Via Egnatia Roman Road from Neapolis (Acts 16:11), to Philippi (Acts 16:12), to Amphipolis (Acts 17:1), to Apollonia (Acts 17:1) and on to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1). The day begins with a brief stop at the port of Neapolis (modern Kavala). Paul's first recorded preaching in Macedonia took place in Philippi. Here, the apostle Paul came and worked (Acts 16:19-40), establishing a strong church. To this congregation, later he sent his Philippian letter. We will visit the ruins of the Agora (marketplace; Acts 16:19), and a Prison where tradition says Paul and Silas had been kept. We drive by the river (just outside Philippi) where it is thought Lydia was baptized (Acts 16:14 -15). Next is Amphipolis, with impressive Roman architecture, where Paul passed through on his way to Thessalonica.
Overnight: Thessaloniki (D, B)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
THESSALONICA, BEREA, VERGINA
When Paul came to Thessalonica he preached for three Sabbaths at the local Synagogue (Acts 17:1) although it is thought he probably spent three months there. Some Jews were persuaded as were some God-Fearer Romans and some leading women of the city (Acts 17:4). However, some within the Jewish community stirred up the crowds against Paul and Silas forcing them to escape Thessalonica at night to the city of Berea (Acts 17:10). Paul’s preaching in the synagogue in Berea was received with eagerness but the Jews from Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up and incited crowds against Paul. Paul left for Athens by ship while Silas and others made their way by land. Driving south out of Thessaloniki, we travel to Vergina, the first capital of Macedonia, where we will visit the tomb of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, and a museum. We continue to the area of Mount Olympus – a sacred mountain region traditionally regarded as the heavenly abode of the Greek gods and the site of the throne of Zeus. A visit to the ruins of Dion and its museum will help us appreciate this region of religious significance to the Macedonian, Greek and Roman empires.
Overnight: Kalampaka (D, B)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
METEORA, THERMOPYLAE
We leave Kalampaka for a full morning visit among the legendary monasteries of Meteora, that are perched precariously on summits of gray rock pinnacles. Please prepare for modest dress today. We will have the opportunity to see all six magnificent monasteries and admire the interior of three of them. We continue to Thermopylae, a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in August 480 BC.
Overnight: Delphi (D, B)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
DELPHI, THEBES, ATHENS
We arrive at Delphi – the center of the ancient world, the “omphalos” (navel) of the earth – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. Located on the slopes of Mt. Parnassos in a landscape of natural beauty and majesty. We will walk the Sacred Way (Sacra Via) to the Treasury of the Athenians, the Theater and the Temple of Apollo where the Pythia performed her prophetic rituals. People came to Delphi from all over Greece and beyond to have their questions about the future answered by the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo. Delphi was for many centuries the cultural and religious center and symbol of unity for the Hellenistic world. The Oracle of Delphi was abolished in 393 AD by Emperor Theodosius, who made Christianity the official religion of the Byzantine Empire. The Archaeological Museum has numerous masterpieces of Greek sculpture. On our drive to Athens, time permitting, we will make a brief stop at small Archaeological Museum of Thebes.
Overnight: Athens (D, B)
Itinerary
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
NATIONAL ARCHAELOGICAL MUSEUM
FREE AFTERNOON
Today provides some free time in the afternoon to rest, reflect, and explore Athens. We begin the day with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, a world-class museum containing the richest collection of artifacts from Greek antiquity worldwide. In the afternoon, you are free to explore Athens, the Plaka, or sites of your choosing. You will enjoy an evening meal at a local restaurant of your choice.
Overnight: Athens (B)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
ATHENS
Our day begins at the world-renowned Acropolis where we will visit the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. Serving as the principal entrance, the Propylaea is unique on the Acropolis since it is not dedicated to any deity. The most dominate and most famous building on the Acropolis is the Parthenon (Temple to Athena) which is dedicated to the city’s patron deity – Athena. Finished in 432 BC, the Parthenon temple would remain in use for more than a thousand years. The Erectheion was named after the demi-god Erechtheus, the mythical Athenian king. This small shrine was the resting place of the ancient wooden cult statue of Athena and other statues of lesser deities. Leaving the Acropolis we arrive at Mars Hill (site of the Aeropagus) where the apostle Paul stood before the city council members and declared, “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” (Acts 17:22-23). From here we can view the Agora, the marketplace of Athens. Here too Paul addressed the people of Athens and reasoned with Athenians for Jesus being the Son of God (Acts 17:17). Next is the Acropolis Museum which showcases the statuary art, relief panels, vases and votive offering associated with the Acropolis. We end the day with a visit to the top of Filopappou Hill for a sunset view of the Acropolis. You will enjoy an evening meal at a local restaurant of your choice.
Overnight: Athens (B)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
MYCANAE, EPIDAURUS
We leave Athens along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf. We cross the Corinth Canal and travel south to the ancient city of Mycenae, home to the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon. You will visit the Treasury of Atreus (Tomb of Agamemnon), the Mycenaean Citadel with the Cyclopean Walls and the Lionesses Gate. After lunch we drive through the fertile Argolic Valley of orange and lemon groves that will bring you to the outskirts of the picturesque town of Nafplio. Continue on to Epidaurus; this world heritage listed city is reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo's son Asklepios, the healer, and was the most celebrated healing center of the classical world. Epidaurus is probably most famous for its theatre, one of the best preserved classical Greek buildings and still used today due to its amazing acoustics.
Overnight: Corinth (D, B)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
CORINTHIAN CANAL, CORINTH, CENCHRAEAE, ISTHMIA, DIOLOKOS
We begin our day with a short drive to ancient Corinth. In route we will visit the Corinthian Canal which is a 4 mile (6.5 km) man-made cut across the narrow Isthmus of Corinth. Arriving at Corinth, it was here that Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul and here the Apostle lived and preached for a year and a half. While in ministry at Corinth, Paul wrote First and Second Thessalonians to the newly established church in Thessalonica. Later, the church at Corinth would receive two letters from Paul (First and Second Corinthians). Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth who came to Corinth from Rome due to persecution during the reign of Claudius (Acts 18:1-17). As was Paul’s custom he preached in the synagogue and some Jews and Gentiles became believers in Jesus the Messiah. Others in the synagogue opposed Paul and he had to take his preaching and teaching next door to the house of Titus Justus, a God-fearing Gentile. We will see all the Greek and Roman sites associated with Paul’s ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio's Seat. Leaving Corinth we travel east to the seaport city of Cenchreae. Paul, having taken a vow, cut his hair and boarded a ship in Cenchreae to return to Jerusalem (via Ephesus and Caesarea) (Acts 18:18). His desire was to reach Jerusalem in time for Passover. Phoebe was a patron or benefactor of the Cenchreae congregation. Our last stop of the day is at Isthmia. We will visit the stadium, and a museum dedicated to the Isthmian Games. Our last stop of the day will be to view the Diolokos, the over-land stone roadway used for the transport of ships and their merchandise between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf.
Overnight: Athens (D, B)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
DEPART GREECE
After witnessing a unique visual and historical experience of the Biblical sites in Greece, this journey has come to an end. There will be a group bus arrangement to Athens International Airport for your departure flight. (B)
