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INCLUDES: TOLL FREE - 1 877 453 7426 JERICO JOURNES - 320 679 1158 JERICO JOURNEYS - PILGRIMAGE TO ST. PAUL GREECE AND ISTANBUL *********************************************** PILGRIMAGE ITINERARY ATHENS - CORINTH METEORA - BEREA - THESSALONIKI - KAVALA - ISTANBUL CRUISE TO MYKONOS, EPHESUS, PATMOS, CRETE AND SANTORINI |
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Day 1 – DEPARTURE FLIGHT TO GREECE Our pilgrimage to the ancient civilization and first Christian communities in Europe where St. Paul preached starts with the flight to Europe, to Athens. |
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Day 2 – ARRIVAL TO GREECE, ATHENS Arrival to Athens, meeting with our guide and escort, transfer to hotel. Time permitting group will celebrate holy mass before check in to hotel. Dinner and overnight in Athens. |
 Greece flag |
Day 3 – ATHENS In the morning after the breakfast we will be whole day visiting and
exploring the city of Athens (Acts 17: 16-34). Acropolis with
Parthenon the greatest monument of antiquity, dedicated to the
goddess Athena, from here one can see Areopagus (Areios Pagos = Hill of Ares)
visited by Pope John Paul ll same hill where St. Paul gave his famous sermon
of "Unknown God", and more of it today. In the afternoon free time in the Plaka,
maybe some shopping or walking and enjoying coffee in one of many restaurants
and cafés in Old Town of Athens. Dinner is in one of the typical
Greek restaurants with live bouzouki music before return to hotel. |
 ACROPOLIS - GREECE |
Day 4 – ATHENS – CORINTH Today pilgrimage will continue with drive to Corinth first across the Corinthian Canal,
started by Nero and then to one of the oldest towns of Greece,
where St. Paul came after he left Athens and. After a stop at the
ancient Corinth (18: 1-18; Cori.) we again meet with the St. Paul,
here he remained for one and a half-year. We will be visiting marketplace
where the Apostle preached to the Corinthians, the Temple of Apollo and the
Corinth Museum. Returning back we will make a short stop at what used to be
ancient port of Cenchreae now barely any remains of the same; it was that from
here St. Paul sailed to Ephesus, nowadays Turkey. Same evening we are in
Athens in time for dinner and packing for next day cruise. |
 CORINTH CANAL |
Today we’ll leave Athens early in the morning for Piraeus and at 11:00 a.m. sail into the Aegean Sea. Our first island is one of the islands belonging to the Cyclades group of islands. This mountainous island of Mykonos has about 400 churches. City of a picturesque white houses and island's trademark the charming windmills. Place has a unique architecture of Byzantine and Western characteristics. To visit are Church of the Virgin Paraportiani, on the main square Cathedral and an old Catholic Church and many boutiques and taverns along tiny paved streets. Return on board of the ship. |
 MYKONOS - EPHESUS - PATMOS - CRETE - SANTORINI |
DAY 6 – KUSADASI (EPHESUS) AND PATMOS This morning you will arrive at the Turkish port city of Kusadasi. From here you will travel to Ephesus, where the Blessed Virgin Mary lived with St. John in a small house on the hill behind the city. Here you will have Mass before traveling down to the ancient city where you can walk the marble roads rutted by wheels of countless chariots and pass the ruins of architectural masterpieces. It is here that St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, and where he was arrested and cast out of the city. In the afternoon you will visit the island of Patmos, where St. John wrote the apocalyptic Book of Revelations. On our excursion wewill visit the cave where he lived, now the site of a monastery housing priceless icons and manuscripts. |
 STATUE BEFORE THE HOUSE OF MARY |
DAY 7 – CRETE - SANTORINI Today on the last day of the cruise group will enjoy on their own visiting Heraklion on the island of Crete and visit to Fira town on the island of Santorini – optional excursion on Crete to Knossos Palace is offered for those interested on more activities on the last day of the cruise. |
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Day 8 – ATHENS - METEORA Today early morning breakfast and group is here disembarking the cruise ship. We again meet our guide and bus for transfer to Kalambaka, town near the Meteora Monastery. Same afternoon visit we will visit Grand Meteoron Monastery (Transfiguration of Christ) most beautiful Byzantine monastery. The word Meteora means literally 'hovering in the air' as all the monasteries were built on top of the high rocks. First monks have lived here in the caves already in 11th century. The Church of the Transfiguration is the best known of the Monasteries and is built upon the highest rock, founded by Athanasios the Meteorite, well-known figures in Orthodox monasticism. After visit we are on the way to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. |
 METEORA MONASTERY |
Day 9 - KALAMBAKA - BEREA - THESSALONIKI After good night rest and morning breakfast group will leave Kalambaka, same day journey continue via Berea (Veria) where St. Paul and St. Silas were accused by Jewish community, after visit we will continue to Thessaloniki. In the late afternoon some visit to Rotonda, St. George church, one of the oldest constructions in the city, building made church at the end of 4th century by Roman emperor. Before end of the day group will check in to hotel in Thessaloniki, dinner and overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 10 - KAVALA - THESSALONIKI After breakfast we start our pilgrimage, we are today on excursion to Kavala, which occupies the site of ancient Neapolis and Philippi (Acts 16:12-40, Phil.), that today lies as a major archaeological site near Krinides where St. Paul and St. Silas were imprisoned after St. Paul's first sermon in what we today call Europe. Here we meet with the women named Lydia form Thyatira (Rev.2: 18-29 and Acts.16: 14 -15) who became first convert. After visiting the ruins of the great Acropolis, the Market Place, Theatre and Forum. We will return to Thessaloniki and read today from the Acts 17:1-9 and "Letter to the Thessalonians" will become more alive to us, visit will include the Galerius Arch, built a little before 305 AD. in commemoration of Galerius's victory over the Persians in 297. Next is the most beautiful basilica in the city St. Demetrius where Saint was imprisoned tortured and buried. We are on our last evening in Greece; return our hotel for last dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. |
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Day 11 - THESSALONIKI - USA, FLIGHT HOME Today early morning breakfast and group is on the way to Thessaloniki International
Airport for flight back home to the US – arrival home same day. |
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OFFSHORE EXCURSIONS DURING THE 3 DAYS CRUISE: |
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KUSADASI - The House Of Virgin Mary & Ephesus - excursion included SANTORINI: FREE TIME - HERE ON SANTORINI GROUP HAS NO EXCURSION INCLUDED
MYKONOS FREE TIME - HERE ON MYKONOS GROUP HAS NO EXCURSION INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXCURSION ON 3RD DAY OF THE CRUISE: CRETE – Excursion to Knossos Palace – $75.00 PER PERSON Duration: 4 hours Excursion will include the visit to archeological site, area discovered in 1899 by Arthur Evan as a location of the Minoan civilization, dating back to 4000 years B.C. It is also the mythological home of Zeus. When visiting to the Knossos palace you will have a chance to see the King’s Chamber with the throne made of alabaster, Queen’s Apartment magnificent halls, and numerous artifacts proving the existence of once mighty Minoan Kingdom. At the end of the excursion some free time at the port before boarding your ship.
All interested in this excursion can buy it with JeriCo where excursion is organized by Cruise company, and you will participate in it with all other passengers on the ship not exclusively and only with JeriCo people. |
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JOIN US - CALL OR E-MAIL FOR RATE OUT OF YOUR DEPARTURE CITY JERICO JOURNEYS - PILGRIMAGE TO ST. PAUL GREECE TOLL FREE - 1 877 - 453 7426 |
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We in JeriCo Christian Journeys will assist you in creating a tour to any Christian site you would like to visit. Whether you plan the tour with your parish community, your prayer group, youth or student group or maybe just your family we will make sure it fits your budget. If you are a priest, coordinator or a group leader with your own group, travel for free! We would like to help you plan and carry out your pilgrimage itinerary. You will have our assistance and support from the initial idea to the final product. |
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which has been magnificently built within the walls of a strong fortification. As you follow your guide and walk uphill towards the entrance of the Monastery, marvel at this impressive structure, which was built 900 years ago. View the courtyard, the Monks’ dining room and the old bakery before visiting the main church with its outstanding frescoes and interior decoration. Your next point of interest is the beautiful but small museum which houses priceless ecclesiastical treasures such as books and manuscripts, mosaics, icons, splendid medieval textiles and vestments as well as jewellery. At the end of your visit, return to your motorcoach and continue on to the nearby Grotto of the Apocalypse, where above stands the church of the Apocalypse, a sub-unit of the main Monastery. Take care as you walk down the steps to visit the Grotto! Once inside, see the silver niches in the wall, that mark the pillow and ledge used as a desk by the author of the Book of Revelations as well as the three-fold crack, made by the Voice of God, emphasizing the honor of the Trinity. After this splendid glory, return to the port and the ship. 
Today after disembarking we are on our own exploring town Fira on on of the smallest islands; Santorini. It is one of the most stunning views from the top of the island, from Caldera cliffs, you can reach it by taking the cable car. Walking along the edge of the cliff, through the cobbled streets with the view to the volcano "Nea Kameni" is truly memorable. Time on your own for visit to the churches, bookshops, cafes, galleries or shops before we all get back on the ship and on to Piraeus.
Today we will sail into the Aegean Sea. Our first island is one of the islands belonging to the Cyclades group of islands. This mountainous island of Mykonos with its almost 400 churches. City of a picturesque white house island's trademark the charming windmills. Place has a unique architecture of Byzantine and Western characteristics. To visit are Church of the Virgin Paraportiani, on the main square Cathedral and an old Catholic Church and many boutiques and taverns along tiny paved streets. Returning on board before 10 p.m. when we over the night sail for Rhodes.