Journey of St Paul 3 days Cruise 10 days

Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegowina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroer
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldavia
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine

Created: 01.09.2015

Sunday, April 27 � Devine Mercy - Day 1 - DEPART USA - We depart the USA on our transatlantic flight aboard a wide-bodied jet. Our arrival is expected in the morning. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Monday, April 28 - Day 2 � MUNICH/THESSALONIKI - We arrive in Munich this morning and transfer for our flight to Thessaloniki. On arrival we are met and enjoy a short sightseeing tour of this famous port city. We drive up to the old town to see the place where St. Paul preached the gospel to the Thessalonians. Then we visit the St. Demetrius Church, the white tower, the Arch of Gallerius and get into the spirit of this fabulous town. Time permitting we will celebrate Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. Tuesday, April 29 - Catherine of Siena - Day 3 � THESSALONIKI/ PHILIPPI - Our full day excursion takes us along the ancient route of St. Paul, through mountain passes and plains on the traces of the Old Egnatia Avenue. We continue to Ancient Philippi, where Paul established the first church in Europe. Weather permitting; we celebrate an outdoor Mass at Philippi at the traditional site where Paul baptized Lydia. We then continue on a short drive to Kavala on the site of ancient Neapolis, where Paul landed on the way to Philippi before returning to Thessaloniki in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. Wednesday, April 30 - Day 4 - THESSALONIKI/VERIA/ VERGINA/KALAMBAKA - This morning following Mass at a local parish Church of the Immaculate Conception, we depart Thessaloniki and drive through the plains of Thessaly, visit the legendary home of the Greek Gods and continue on to Veria (Beroea of the New Testament) where Paul visited on route to Athens and the Scriptures say the people were "more noble than in Thessaloniki." Paul and Silas were taken here after the Thessaloniki pagans attacked them. We then visit Vergina a modern town in Greece and the location of the ancient capital of the Macedonians, called Aigeai. We end in Kalambaka with dinner and overnight. Thursday, May 1 - St. Joseph the Worker - Day 5 - KALAMBAKA/ATHENS - This morning we continue to nearby Meteora whose pillar-like rocks provide an amazing site. The Meteora (meaning �suspended rocks,� �suspended in the air,� �in the heavens above�) is one of the largest and one of the most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries in Greece. The six Monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly. Afterwards we procede south getting on the highway and catching a glimpse of Mt. Olympus proceeding through the towns of Lamia, Larissa. On arrival in Athens, we celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of St. Dionysius. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. Friday, May 2 - Day 6 - ATHENS/PIRAEUS/CRUISE - We are transferred from our hotel to the seaport of Piraeus where we board our cruise ship for our three-day cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey. That same afternoon, we arrive at the island of Mykonos with its whitewashed houses and winding streets. We are free to explore this picturesque island, startling white against the multi-hued sunset. (A 9 euro bus transfer fee must be paid at the pier.) If possible, we will celebrate Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church on the Island. Dinner and overnight aboard our ship. Saturday, May 3 � Philip & James - Day 7 - EPHESUS (KUSADASI)/PATMOS - This morning our ship docks in Kusadasi where our excursion takes us first to the Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Some of the most spectacular ruins of the world are to be found in Ephesus, the city to whom St. Paul wrote his famous epistle. Early Christian tradition also believes that Mary, the Mother of Our Lord also lived here with St. John. We continue to Mary�s House where we celebrate Mass. We return to our ship for lunch where we continue on to Patmos, which was considered sacred and is often referred to as the "Jerusalem of the Aegean." It was here that the Evangelist St. John received the inspiration for the Apocalypse. Our excursion visits the Monastery of St. John, a huge fortress-like building dating from the 11th century. We also visit the grotto, where tradition says that St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. We return to our ship and overnight. Sunday, May 4 - Day 8 - SANTORINI - This morning we arrive at Santorini, the island thought by many to be the lost continent of Atlantis. Here we join a visit to Oia Village. Driving along the road we have the unique opportunity to admire the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and neighboring islands. We see various layers of lava on the face of the rock, each layer being another phase of the activity of the volcano. Built on the Caldera rim, Oia Village is an excellent example of Cycladic architecture. We explore the village walking along the cobble-stone streets and the white washed houses with blue shutters which resembles a beautiful travel poster. We celebrate Mass at the Cathedral on the Island. Our excursion ends in Fira where our guide will show us the way to the cable car back to the ship. Monday, May 5 - Day 9 - PIRAEUS/CORINTH/ATHENS - Upon Arrival in Piraeus, we disembark and drive to nearby Athens for a visit to the legendary Acropolis. We see the chief jewel of the Acropolis - the Parthenon, the Temple of Winged Victory, the Propylea and the Erechteum with its peerless Porch of Maidens. Beneath the Acropolis is the Areopagus or Mars Hill. This is where St. Paul made his famous "Men of Athens" speech revealing a considerable knowledge of the Greek philosophy and character. Continue with visit of New Acropolis museum a long term dream. The museum houses all the findings from the rock of the Acropolis and the copies of the missing marbles that are in the British museum. Continue with our Mass at the Cathedral and then we will have time on our own. Dinner & overnight at our hotel. Tuesday, May 6 - Day 10 - CORINTH-ACROCORINTH & KEHREES/ATHENS � This morning we will drive along the coastal highway with a splendid view of the Aegean sea. After crossing the Corinth Canal (short stop), which connects the Aegean and Ionian Seas, arrive in ancient Corinth. Visit the ancient ruins of the city where St. Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. Included are the first century shops, the Agora, Temple of Apollo and the Bema seat. Conditions permitting we celebrate Mass on the very site where St. Paul preached. We continue to Acrocorinth, the Acropolis of Corinth. The limestone mountain (575 meters) is among the strongest natural fortresses in Europe. The citadel was the goal of all who aspired to the domination of the Peloponnese and it changed hands many times. The summit is enclosed by a wall and the only approach is defended by a triple line of fortification. Visit of the port of Cechreaes. This is the port where St. Paul landed on his way to Corinth from Athens. He also cut his hair there, one of his vows. Back to Athens, we have the opportunity to explore the culinary delights of Athens tonight, as dinner will be on our own. Overnight at our hotel. Wednesday, May 7 - Day 11 - ATHENS/USA - This morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight home.