Upon arrival at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, meet our local representative who will assist with your transfer to the hotel. Enjoy an orientation panoramic tour of the city, before check-in. Your journey to the Biblical land of Greece begins!
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.
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.
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. 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. Our journey continues to Kalambaka, one of the most beautiful towns in Greece.
Morning visit to the spectacular Meteora monasteries built on the top of huge gray boulders. These are veritable Byzantine monasteries, exhibiting superb icons and manuscripts from the 14th century. After our visit, continue on to Berea (Acts 17:10-15) where the apostle Paul arrived and according to his custom, went to the synagogue and discovered ‘to his pleasant surprise’ that these Jews he had encountered in Thessalonica were “searching the scriptures”. We see the Byzantine mosaic in the monument commemorating his preaching (Acts 17:10-11). Continue to Thessalonica in late afternoon for overnight stay.
On our way to Philippi, we drive by the Lion statue of Amphipolis (short stop for photos). We visit Philippi, the site 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.
Before our departure for Athens, we enjoy a city tour of Thessalonica (Acts 17:1) where Paul went immediately to the synagogue and for three Saturdays explained the prophecies of the Old Testament to Jews and Greeks. According to the Book of the Acts, many Greeks and even many «Greek chief women» believed (Acts 17:1-4). We go to the upper Old City Walls, then drive along the Egnatian Way to see the Triumphal Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda. After the visit, journey back to Athens, where we arrive in the evening for an overnight stay.
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.
