PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEY IN GREECE
Led by Pastor John Barber
Dates: May 17 – 25, 2024
Flights
Turkish Airlines Flight # | Depart | Arrive |
---|---|---|
TK 32 | ATL on May 17 at 9:50 PM | IST on May 18 at 3:45 PM |
TK 1893 | IST on May 18 at 6:50 PM | SKG on May 18 at 8:10 PM |
TK 1844 | ATH on May 25 at 10:35 AM | IST on May 25 at 12:05 PM |
TK 31 | IST on May 25 at 3:10 PM | ATL on May 25 at 8:05 PM |
Hotels
Dates | City | Hotel |
---|---|---|
May 18-20 | Thessaloniki | MEDITERRANEAN PALACE |
May 20-21 | Kalambaka | DIVANI KALAMBAKA |
May 21-22 | Arachova | ELLINON THEA |
May 22-25 | Athens | BROWN ACROPOL |
General Itinerary
Note: Itinerary has been updated to reflect new dates: May. 17-25, 2024
Day 1 – May 17, 2024 – Fri- DEPART FROM US
Departure flight from Atlanta to Thessalonica.
Day 2 – May 18, 2024 – Sat – ARRIVE IN GREECE – Thessaloniki
Arrive in Thessalonica, the second largest city of Greece. Meet and assist upon landing. transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – May 19, 2024 – Sun- Thessaloniki
Depart for Philippi, passing by the Lion statue of Amphipolis (short stop for photos). We visit the archaeological site of Philippi, where Paul established a strong church and sent his letter (Acts 16:9-33). We see the river where Lydia is said to have been baptized, the ruins of a prison where the Apostle Paul and Sylas had been kept, the Agora, 5th and 6th century Basilica and the theater. After the visit, we continue to Kavala, the ancient port of Neapolis (Acts 16:11) where we enjoy a panoramic tour before returning to Thessalonica for an overnight stay.
Day 4 – May 20, 2024 – Mon- Kalambaka
This morning we drive to the upper part of the old city walls that offer excellent views of the city. After our sightseeing drive, we make our way to Berea (Acts 17:10-15) where Paul arrived and according to his custom, went to the synagogue and discovered that these Jews were “more noble” than those he had encountered in Thessalonica (Acts 17:10-11). Continue to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight
Day 5 – May 21, 2024 – Tue- Arachova
Enjoy a spectacular drive up to Meteora to visit two Monasteries built on the top of colossal symmetrical gray and reddish boulders. They are perched precariously high above the ground and were first built in the 14th century by monks seeking isolation and salvation. View the superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes. In the afternoon, start the drive back to Athens passing by historical Thermopylae, where we visit King Leonidas of Sparta’s commemoratory monument. Overnight in Delphi
Day 6 – May 22, 2024 – Wed – Athens
Check-out from the hotel. We start our drive to the Oracle of Delphi, considered to be the center of the ancient world, whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. At Delphi archaeologists found a stone which was probably once attached to the outer wall of the Temple of Apollo. Inscribed in it, is a copy of a letter from the Roman emperor Claudius to the city of Delphi. Historians date the inscription to 52 AD, which corresponds almost precisely to the time of St. Paul’s stay in 51. We visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians and the archaeological museum, containing such masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture, such as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. Continue to Athens. Overnight.
Day 7 – May 23, 2024, Thu- Athens
In the morning, we climb up to the marble-capped Acropolis Hill and visit the famous Parthenon and Erechtheion Temples. Then walk to nearby Mars’ Hill (Areopagus) (Acts 17:22) where Paul delivered his soul-stirring sermon to the giants of philosophy, logic and learning and spoke about the inscription: “to an unknown god”. We continue our tour with a panoramic sightseeing of the city highlights. Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure in Plaka, the oldest and most picturesque district of Athens.
Day 8 – May 24, 2024 – Fri- Athens
Today we depart for our morning tour out of Athens. Driving along the Saronic Gulf, we enjoy a quick photo stop at the historic Corinth Canal. Continue to Corinth archaeological site (Acts 18:1-18) where the Apostle Paul lived and worked, establishing a thriving church, subsequently sending two of his epistles, now part of the New Testament. Here, we see all of the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. The small local archaeological museum is an absolute must! Return to Athens in the afternoon. Evening will be free to explore the historical and modern center of the city.
Day 9 – May 25, 2024 – Sat- RETURN FLIGHT BACK TO THE US
After witnessing a unique visual and historical experience of the Old and New Testament sites in Greece, this Biblical journey in Greece has come to an end. You will be transferred to Athens International Airport for your departure flight home.
We return home full of rich and unforgettable memories. A common refrain is heard — is the trip really over? Can we start planning for our return visit?
Schedules and/or local conditions may change while touring. Changes might be made in the order of the sites.