The Footsteps of Paul with Bob Rutherford

Today we embark on our journey to the lands of ancient treasures and Christian history with an overnight flight to Athens. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the flight. Tomorrow you will be walking where the apostles walked!

We arrive in Athens and enjoy a brief overview of the city by coach. We will then check in to the hotel. You will have the remainder of the day free to relax or take a stroll along the streets of Athens to enjoy the flavor of the city. This evening our group will enjoy the first of many delectable European style dinners at the hotel.

Today you 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 view the Agora (ancient marketplace 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. Then we 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. Return to Athens.  Dinner and overnight are in Athens.

We sail this morning from Athens to the quaint island of Mykonos, The magical sun-kissed island of Mykonos invites you to admire its stunning coastline, soft sandy beaches, and rugged rocky landscape. Affectionately known as the ‘Island of the Winds’, Mykonos is home to the 16th-Century windmills that have become iconic landmarks on postcards. The energetic Greek island is well known for its beauty, diverse range of bars, cafes and restaurants and a vibrant atmosphere. Then we’ll return to the ship for dinner and the evening entertainment.

Today we’ll enjoy a tour of ancient Ephesus, one of the largest restorations still in progress. The ruins reveal miles of ancient treasures. Ephesus was once a thriving port town of about 250,000 people. Today you can see the spectacular excavations of the major streets in this city including the agora, the odeon, the library, the marble-paved main street, the baths, Trajan’s Fountain, the residences of the Patricians, the Prytaneum, and the Temple of Hadrian. The Great Theatre, built in the 4th century B.C., could accommodate 24,000 spectators and is famous even today for its acoustics. This afternoon we will visit the Isle of Patmos, under statutory protection as a historic monument Here we’ll take a tour of the fortified monastery of St. John as well as the cave that is claimed to be the place where John received the Revelation. We’ll return to the ship for dinner. 

As we pull into Heraklion, you have the chance to snap the imposing 16th-Century walls of Koules Fortress. Here you can enjoy the calm of the stunning waterfront or opt to go on a whirlwind adventure of the Cretan countryside. To delve into Crete’s past, take a spellbinding tour of the Palace of Knossos, which invites you to listen to tales of intrigue and learn about Europe’s first civilization in the Knossos museum. Was the Minotaur half-man or myth? You’re about to find out!

The romantic charm of Santorini is one of the most celebrated Greek islands in the Aegean. Here you will have the opportunity to explore the magical villages of Fira and Oia and photograph the whitewashed houses and blue-blue-domed churches perched on caldera cliffs. With extraordinary from an elevated position, this idyllic island is the perfect location to watch the sunset. Here we’ll have some free time before returning to the ship for dinner.

Today after our disembarkation from the cruise ship, we continue through the highway to central Greece and the mountains to Meteora. Here, there are the world-famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliffside caves and then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. We see all the monasteries there and we visit one of them. Our lodging this evening will be in Larissa.

Today we continue to Berea to view the synagogue where Paul preached. We stop at the Bema surrounded by mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the “more noble” church. Then we continue to Thessaloniki. The New Testament books of I & II Thessalonians will come alive to us today as we tour in the delightful harbor city of Thessalonica. We will view the old city ramparts; the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church, an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia. We also see the White Tower and visit the Basilica of St. Demetrius.  Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

We begin the day by following the massive battlement Byzantine wall to the citadel for a panoramic view of the city. Next, we will visit Philippi and Kavala. Kavala is Greece’s prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbor. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Luke, the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. Imagine walking on the same sod as these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the Ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known since the 5th century as Kavala. Continue to Philippi where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre. We continue to Thessalonica for dinner and overnight.

After our breakfast today, we leave the city and drive back to Athens. En route, we will visit Thermopylae where the King Leonidas with his 300 Spartans fought against the huge Persian army and their King Xerxes. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

We transfer to the Athens airport for our flights home.