Tripology

Depart from the USA for a transatlantic flight to Athens. Prepare for a “Pilgrimage of a Lifetime.”

Arrive in Athens, drive to Piraeus Port and embark your cruise ship, enjoying excellent teaching.

Thessaloniki-Visit the Walls, The House of Jason where Paul lived and the Agora where he preached. Continue to Veria-ancient Beroea- to the memorial com-memorating Paul's preaching to the local Jews in 54 AD.

Kavala (ancient Neapolis), the site where Paul, Timothy and Silas landed on the coast of Thrace. From there, visit Philippi where Paul lived, preached and was imprisoned and the Baptistery of Lydia, first baptism on European soil took place.

In the morning we arrive in Istanbul, formerly Byzantium. Visit the Topkapi Palace treasure chambers, the Blue Mosque, and St. Sofia, converted to a mosque from a Christian basilica after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

From Dikili to Pergamon, the great city of Bergama, a city of the Book of Revelation. One of the best-preserved sites in Turkey

Journey to Ephesus, the marble city where Paul spent 3 years of his ministry. It was to this community that Paul may have written his epistle to the Ephesians. The ruins of Ephesus have been restored much like the city was in Paul's time. You will visit the ancient Agora and imagine where Demetrius, the silversmith, sold his silver shrines of the Greek goddess, Artemis. See the library of Celsius and enter the Great Theatre mentioned in the book of Acts.

Patmos, the "Holy Island" for the Christian faith. This is the place where the apocalyptic Revelation of John was written during his exile from the Roman Em-pire. We visit the cave and the monastery of St. John.

The architectural splendors of the ancient city of Athens are as magical as ever. Follow your guide on a journey to the ancient Acropolis where you will see the Parthenon and Mars Hill where Paul preached the gospel to the community of his day (Acts 17: 15-34). View the ruins of the Agora, ancient market place where Paul preached to the Athenians. You will view the Olympic Stadium, where the modern Olympics began and where the games returned in 2004. Visit Corinth (Acts 18: 1-18), a city that inspired of St. Paul's most familiar letter. You will visit the Archeological Museum, the Market Place, and Temples. Walk among the ruins and stand on the Bema where Paul stood. Read Paul's letter to the Corinthians and visualize his address to the Gentiles as he began the task of building Corinth's church. Imagine where Aquila and Priscilla lived and where they had their tent making business.

DAY RELAXING AT SEA - Lecturer on board

This morning our ship will dock in Port Said where you will disembark and travel to Cairo via the Land of Goshen. Begin your tour of Cairo with a visit to the Egyptian Museum which houses the King Tut treasures and many other artifacts from Egypt's long history. Continue to the Great Pyramids of Giza and see this last remaining ancient wonder which was built before the time of Moses and the Israelites in this ancient land

From Ashdod, travel to Jerusalem to pray at the Western Wall. Stand upon the Mount of Olives and view the city as Jesus did. Wander among the olive trees of the Garden of Gethsemane. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Enter the Old City and visit the Pool of Bethesda.

Ship is docked overnight in Ashdod. Travel to Bethlehem to visit the cave revered as the place where Jesus was born (Matt. 1: 18-25; Luke 2: 1-7). The church, which was constructed on the site, is the word's oldest functioning church. Nearby you'll view Shepherds' Field where the Good News was first heard. Continue to Jerusalem where you will visit the Upper Room, the traditional site of the Last Supper. Continue to the House of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was tried before the Senhedrin. Finally, visit the Western Wall, the last remains of the Herodian Temple and the holiest site in Judaism.

Arriving in Haifa, continue to the Sea of Galilee. Stand on the Mount of the Beatitudes (Luke 6:12-49). At Tabgha, feeding of the 5000, the Church of the Loaves and Fish (Luke 9:10-17); Chapel of the Primacy where 3 times Peter professed his devotion to the Risen Christ (John 21). Continue to Capernaum where Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John (Matt 4:13) and later Matthew; stop by the River Jordan (those who wish to be re-baptized may do so).

Visit Paphos where Apostle Paul lived and preached during his first missionary journey. See the famous Saint Paul's pillar– altar of Paul.

Rhodes old town (the largest inhabited medieval town of Europe) and its mighty fortifications (built by the crusaders of St. John). An optional tour takes us to Lindos. From the Acropolis a breathtaking view covering the great expanse of the Aegean Sea and St. Paul's Bay, where the Apostle cast harbor during his historic voyage to Ephesus.

Visit Miletus, where Paul delivered his touching farewell address to the elders of Ephesus and predicted his death.

Transfer to the airport for our departure home with fond memories, love joy and peace in our hearts