In the Footsteps of Paul and Greek Islands Cruise June 17-28, 2016, 12 days, only $3995

Sponsored by St Paul’s UMC Learning on Location Committee

Day 1, Friday, June 17: Fly from Kansas City (contact our tour operator to fly from another airport). Day 2, Saturday, June 18: Arrive at the modern Athens airport built for the recent Olympics. Transfer to your 4-star Athens hotel for overnight. Breakfast and dinner are included each day throughout the tour, as well as all meals on the cruise. Day 3, Sunday, June 19: Admire the architectural miracles of ancient Athens with your guide at the world renowned Acropolis--see the Propylea, the Erectheum and the Parthenon. Visit Mars Hill, where Paul delivered his powerful sermon on the “Unknown God” (Acts 17:22-31). View the Agora, the ancient center of the economic and public life, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the coach tour, see Constitution Square with the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium, and the many stunning neoclassical buildings of Athens. The afternoon is free to explore, including the famous tourist area of the Plaka. Day 4, Monday, June 20: Your journey in the mainland of Greece begins with the drive from Athens to Thessaloniki. On the way, you view the famous Thermopylae Pass (battle of the 300 under Spartan king Leonidas), the beautiful Valley of Tembi, the legendary mountain Olympus and the Byzantine Castle of Platamonas. You arrive at Veria (biblical Berea), where you visit the Bema (speaking place) of the Apostle Paul (Acts 17:11). Continue to Thessaloniki (to whose people Paul wrote the letters to the Thessalonians). Dinner and overnight in your deluxe hotel.

Day 5, Tuesday, June 21: Follow the route of the Via Egnatia and visit, like Paul and his companions, the area of Amphipolis, to see the famous funerary Lion of Amphipolis, and the site of Philippi. There, you visit the Baptistery of Lydia near the river, where Paul baptized Lydia, his first European convert (Acts 16:12-15) and visit a lovely commemorative chapel. Paul’s preaching got him jailed in Philippi, till a miracle freed him and his companions—and led to the baptism of the Philippian jailor and his family (Acts 16:25 ff). Also, visit the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, “Prison of Paul,” and the Theater. Drive to Kavala (biblical Neapolis), a picturesque port and see the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct—where Paul first landed in Europe after being called by the vision of the Man of Macedonia (Acts 16:9-11). Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight. Day 6, Wednesday, June 22: In the morning, drive in Thessaloniki to see the landmark of the city, the White Tower, the Walls of the Byzantine Acropolis, the Roman Arch of Galerius, and the Rotonda. Visit two of the city’s oldest and most admired Christian churches, the Basilicas of St. Demetrius and St. Sophia (Divine Wisdom). Continue to Kalambaka, where you visit one of the amazing Byzantine monasteries of Meteora, perched on top of gigantic rock pinnacles in one of the most fantastic geological formations in the world. Dinner and overnight in a 4-star hotel in the village of Kalambaka. Day 7, Thursday, June 23: Travel to scenic Delphi, one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth, which in antiquity was believed to be the “navel” (omphalos) of the world. Walk on the Sacred

Way to see the Athenian Treasury, the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle delivered ambiguous prophecies and the Theater. Visit the Museum’s splendid collection of ancient works of art, including the Sphinx of the Naxians, the Silver Bull, the Column of the Dancers, the “Omphalos” and the pride of the museum, the 5th century B.C. bronze “Charioteer.” Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight. Day 8, Friday, June 24: This morning board a ship from the Celestyal Cruises line and sail to the world- famous island of Mykonos. The town is a small architectural miracle, with its gleaming whitewashed buildings and windmills, and one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world. Guided walking tour of the city is included, led by the tour escort who will be with you throughout the cruise. Day 9, Saturday, June 25: After the overnight cruise to the Turkish coast, the recommended optional tour drives through the colorful town of Kusadasi to reach biblical Ephesus. Paul spent a major part of his missionary journey here (Acts 19) and of course wrote the Letter to the Ephesians (one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation). Your guided walking tour takes you through one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. See the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the heated Baths of Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the Library of Celsus, and The Great Theatre, the largest one in antiquity with a capacity of 24,000 where Paul caused a riot (Acts 19:22ff). Walk along the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. Driving back to Kusadasi and just outside Ephesus, view the Basilica of St. John, which was erected over his grave in the 6th century A.D. by Emperor Justinian. Before returning to the ship, free time in the shopping city of Kusadasi, which specializes in oriental carpets, jewelry, and leather goods.

Later, sail for the isle of Patmos, where St John received The Revelation. Optional shore excursion departs by coach from the port of Scala and enjoy a short drive to the village of Chora, where the Monastery of St. John is built within the walls of a strong fortification. Afterwards, drive back to the port of Scala and enjoy some free time in this quaint and picturesque town. Day 10, Sunday, June 26: Morning arrival at Heraklion, Crete, where you can choose to visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos, home to king Minos and the legendary Minotaur. In the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion are unbelievable works of art (pieces of sculpture and pottery, jewellery, arms, frescoes), that have been found in a number of Minoan sites all over Crete. Then, sail north to the isle of Santorini, the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands. The exquisite whitewashed villages, including the town of Fira, or Thira, cling to volcanic cliffs, accessible by cable-car, or mule. After you reach the city, a guided-tour of the city is included. Day 11, Monday. June 27: You arrive in Piraeus, Athens, early in the morning and, after breakfast, you disembark and begin your trip to Ancient Corinth, the once glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla and spent a year and a half working and preaching the Gospel (Acts 18). You visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples and the famous Bema, where Paul stood before Gallio accused by the Jews of Corinth. Then, you drive to Cenchreae, the little harbor Paul sailed back to Asia from, thus ending his second missionary journey. Back to Athens for your farewell dinner at a tavern in the Plaka area and hotel overnight. Day 12, Tuesday, June 28: Fly home with new in-sights into Paul’s life and teachings and memories of a wonderful tour shared by friends and family.

Total price is $3795 based on land and air costs as of February 15, 2015, and for a group of at least 16 total travelers. Price includes r/t airfare from MCI and other airports, excellent hotels, guided touring and entrance fees as per the itinerary, all tipping, breakfast and dinner daily on land portion and all meals on the cruise.

Windmills of Mykonos