				Bob Hostetler > Events > Holy Land 2010

Journeys of Paul Cruise Itinerary

Day 1
Depart USA
Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight.

Day 2
Arrival in Athens
You’ll be met by our representative and transferred to your Athens hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3
Athens and Corinth
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 Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erectheum. View Mars Hill where Paul preached the gospel to the intellectual Athenian community of his day (Acts 17: 15-34). View the ruins of the Agora, ancient market place and center of Athenian public life, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. You will view the Olympic Stadium, where the modern Olympics began and where the games returned in 2004. Travel to Corinth (Acts 18: 1-18), a city that inspired St. Paul’s most familiar letter. You will visit the Archaeological 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. Transfer to the Orient Queen in the port of Piraeus for dinner and overnight and sail to Thessaloniki.

Day 4
Thessaloniki, Vergina and Veria
Visit Vergina where the Royal Tombs of King Philip (Alexander's father) were discovered, one of the greatest discoveries of Greece antiquity in the 20th century. Vergina was the original capital of the ancient Macedonian Empire. The well preserved tombs include impressive amounts of silver and gold artifacts which are now housed in the impressive and modern Museum. Continue to Veria - ancient Berea - to the memorial commemorating Paul’s preaching to the local Jews in 54 AD. Still visible today in Veria is part of the Roman road - the Via Egnatia. It remains a silent witness to Rome’s greatness. Travel to Thessaloniki, second largest city in Greece and capital of Macedonia. Paul preached in Thessaloniki during the winters of 49-50 AD and wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. During the City Tour you will see the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire and the Roman Agora where Paul preached. The monastery of Vlatadon was built on the location where Jason’s house is believed to have stood and where Paul stayed during his visit to Thessaloniki. You will also drive to the upper town which offers a marvelous view of the city.

Day 5
Philippi (Kavala)
This morning you will visit Neapolis (Kavala), one of Greece’s most picturesque mainland ports. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. You will see the Roman Aqueduct and Acropolis. In Philippi, Paul was moved to preach his first evangelical sermon in Europe to women who had gathered at the river. Among them was Lydia, a cloth merchant, who became the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. Visit the place where this event is remembered and see a crypt dating from the Roman period, which is thought to have served as a prison for St. Paul. You’ll also see the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica and the Theater. The New Testament books of Philippians are Paul’s correspondence with the people of this church. Reboard the ship for dinner and overnight. Sail for Dikili.

Day 6
Dikili and Pergamum
Disembark at the port of Dikili and travel to Pergamum. Christianity reached Pergamum very early and the church was addressed by John the Revelator (Rev. 2:12-17) as one of the Seven Churches. The inhabitants of the city were condemned for their doctrines (Rev 2:14-15) and those who overcame were promised a “white stone” and a “new name” (Rev 2:17). The first Christian to die at the hands of a Roman state, Antipas, was put to death in Pergamum. As you enter the Royal Gates, you’ll view the Temples of Athena and Trajan. You’ll explore the Grand Theater, the Gymnasium and Health Center. You’ll also view Pergamum’s famous Library, second only to Alexandria’s. Pergamum introduced the “paged book” and -- when Egypt cut off its supply of papyrus -- re-introduced the use of skins for writing. It is from these “Pergamum pages” that we get the word “parchment”. Sail for Patmos.

Day 7
Patmos
When you awake, you will be docked in the harbor of the Island of Patmos. Disembark after breakfast for a field trip on the island. No record indicates that Paul ever visited Patmos. Visit the Monastery of St. John, high on the mountain overlooking the entire island. Visit the Grotto of the Apocalypse where the exiled Apostle John lived and wrote the Book of Revelation and other correspondence to the early church. During the night, the ship will set sail for Kusadasi.

Day 8
Ephesus
Journey to Ephesus, the marble city where Paul spent three 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. You will enter the Great Theater and have a communion service in the place where Paul witnessed faithfully for Christ. Overnight in the port of Kusadasi.

Day 9
Miletus
Visit the archaeological site of Miletus (Acts 20:13-38). Paul and his companions traveled to Miletus via Mytilene, Chios and Samos. Once in Miletus, Paul delivered his touching farewell address to the elders of Ephesus and predicted his death. NOTE: Those taking the Istanbul Post-Tour, Wellness Post-Tour or the Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Church in Asia Minor will disembark today. All other passengers will sail back to Athens.

Day 10
Return Home or Begin Post Tour
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight. You will return home with new images and new appreciation for the life and teachings of Paul and John.