Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

You will arrive in Athens, Greece, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Enjoy the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide introduces you to the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. Stand on Mars Hill as the apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, "I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:23). As you stroll the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life), recall that this was where the Apostle Paul preached "Jesus and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. Also see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon, you are free to explore Athens on your own or enjoy an optional journey to Sounion to visit the famous Temple of Poseidon (an additional $75). Dinner and overnight are spent in Athens. (Note – Cruise extension passengers will depart from the group this morning and head to Piraeus for their cruise ship)

Tour the city of Corinth, where the apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord saying, "I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18: 10). As Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8), establishing the church at Corinth to whom Paul later wrote his two epistles. Discover the Archaeological Museum, Market Place and Temples. As you walk among the ruins, stand on the Bema, where the apostle Paul stood before Gallio to face charges brought against him by the Jews. Stop briefly at the port town of Cenchreae from which Paul later departed for Syria (Acts 18: 12 -18). Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.

This morning, you will board the ship in Piraeus and sail the blue waters of the Aegean Sea. In the evening, you will arrive at the world-famous Greek Island of Mykonos, where gleaming whitewashed buildings seem to climb atop each other to reach the azure sky. *Shore excursions today will be booked directly through Celestyal Cruise Line and are not included

Disembark at the port of Santorini, one of the most spectacular sites in the entire world. Built on the edges of the volcano whose eruption is thought to have led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization, it’s whitewashed walls and brilliant blue roofs stand in stark contrast to the sheer drop cliffs that end in the Aegean Sea.

This morning, you arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey, and journey to Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul spent three years of his ministry. He planted a church here and later wrote to them in his Epistle to the Ephesians. Many of the ruins of Ephesus (known as “the marble city”) have been restored to show the city as it was in the Apostle Paul’s time. Visit the agora and imagine where Demetrius, the silver-smith, sold his silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. Stroll through the great theater, where Paul witnessed faithfully for Christ. Not far away is the stadium where chariot races took place and gladiatorial combats were held. Tradition has it that the Apostle Paul himself fought here against wild beasts. Visit the ruins of St. John’s Basilica, where early Christian tradition tells us the “disciple whom Jesus loved” was buried. View one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the ruins of the Temple of Diana (Artemis), before setting sail for the Island of Patmos to visit the Monastery of St. John high on the mountain overlooking the entire island. Walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse and the caves where it is believed that the exiled Apostle John lived and was inspired by God to write the Book of Revelation as well as other letters to the early church.

Free Day in Athens

Return home with a new appreciation of the Apostle Paul's life and ministry.