Arrive at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens in late evening. You will be greeted by our local Trinity Tour Travels escort and driver, who will transfer you to Athens. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Athens.

Breakfast at the hotel in Athens. Begin your pilgrimage with a full day of touring one of the oldest-named cities in the world, Athens.  We begin with a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first Olympic Games in 1896.  This historic stadium was rebuilt on the excavation site of the stadium built by Herodes Atticus around 144 AD.  It is the only stadium in the world built entirely from marble and remains the point from where the Olympic Flame handover ceremony to the host nation takes place.  We then wander around Plaka, the Old Town,  the Acropolis and its museum, and visit the Herodion amphitheater (The Odeon of Herodes).  The day continues with a visit to the Parthenon and Mars Hill or “The Areopagus,” where St. Paul preached against the idolatry of the Greeks (Acts 17: 16-34).  A stroll through the colorful flea market follows Monastiraki, the heart of Athens. Free time this afternoon.

Mass this day is at St. Dennis Church – Athens

Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Athens

Following breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Corinth, one of the most historic cities in the world. St. Paul lived and preached here between 51 and 52 AD. Tradition maintains that he loved Corinth more than any other city in the pagan world. Two of his epistles are named in honor of this beloved city. We visit the Corinth Canal for its awe-inspiring and breathtaking views and then on to Ancient Corinth. It is here where St. Paul wrote his letters. We see the Bema of St. Paul, a large, elevated rostrum at the center of the Roman Forum. The Bema is where St. Paul was accused of false teachings and where his trial took place. We visit the Corinth Market before returning to Athens in the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Athens.

After our last breakfast in Athens, we drive to the charming Port of Lavrio to embark on a 4-day, 3-night cruise of Greek islands. We board the Celestyal Olympia, with its relaxing lounges and authentic Greek cuisine, to arrive on Mykonos this afternoon.

With its magnificent golden beaches, delightful windmills, winding marble streets and pristine white houses with colorful domes, this picturesque town houses historical treasures and a joyful, vibrant culture! Winding through the narrow, labyrinthine streets of Mykonos Town, we see the iconic Church of Panagia Paraportiani. This whitewashed architectural marvel is one of the numerous churches and chapels to be visited. Each is adorned with religious icons and amazing frescoes. We visit the charming area of Mykonos Little Venice with its colorful, idyllic Venetian houses and remarkable sunsets against the backdrop of the azure Aegean Sea! Dinner and overnight onboard. Departure to Kusadasi.

Breakfast onboard as we arrive at the beach resort town of Kusadasi, Turkey. On Turkey’s central Aegean Sea coast, Kusadasi serves as the gateway for our next destination, the ancient Greek city of Ephesus. The first Christian community in Ephesus was established by the beloved apostle, John, and was developed by St. Paul. St. Paul stayed here for over 3 years and wrote his letters to the Ephesians while in captivity. Well known as the final resting place of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ephesus is also home to the Basilica of St. John, which honors the beloved apostle of Jesus, who was charged with Our Lady’s care.

We visit the humble home of the mother of God, which is nestled amidst tranquil, green hills of the Bulbul Mountains and have personal time for prayer and reflection. 

We return onboard to journey to the sacred and serene island of Patmos, where the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelations. We tour the Grotto of St. John, built around the cave where he wrote and lived in isolation for two years (95-97 AD), and see the stone, which is said to have been used as his pillow. Following this very memorable day, we return to the port. Dinner and overnight onboard. 

Departure to Heraklion.

Breakfast onboard and on to Heraklion, on the beautiful and largest of the Greek islands, Crete. We visit the Koules Fortress, built in the early 16th century at the entrance of the old port of Heraklion, and the Venetian Loggia, an eye-catching edifice built in 1620 that still serves as the Town Hall of Heraklion today. A visit to the grand and stunning Cathedral of St. Agios Minas (patron saint of the city), the Basilica of St. Mark, and the medieval monastery of St. Catherine before we visit the city of Knossos, the place known for the very first civilization in Europe, the Minoans. It is presumed to be the oldest city in all of Europe.

We conclude our day on the unforgettable island of Crete and reboard the ship to the majestic island of Santorini. Renowned for its breathtaking, dramatic, and rocky landscapes, cliff-side whitewashed houses with blue roofs, and unforgettable sunsets, this caldera offers some of the most enthralling views in the world. A huge volcanic eruption in the 17th century shaped this unique crater (caldera), now known as the island of Santorini, and is well known for its red and black volcanic beaches and enchanting people! We visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and the Church of Panagia Episkopi prior to boarding the ship. 

Dinner and overnight onboard. Return to Lavrio.

Following our last breakfast onboard, we disembark in Lavrio and head to the town of Kalambaka in Thessaly, on the northern side of Greece. The most fascinating characteristic of this modern settlement is the Meteora rocks that form a spectacular precipice on the northern part of the skyline. Kalambaka is renowned for its monasteries which are perched precariously on the cliffs of these towering rock formations. These ancient Monasteries of Meteora create an “otherworldly” atmosphere, to say the least! A visit to the monasteries as time permits prior to check-in at the hotel. 

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Kalambaka.

Breakfast at the hotel prior to visiting one or more of the Meteora Monasteries. We then depart to Thessaloniki, the co-capital of Greece. We stop along the way and visit Berea (Veria) in Macedonia (northern Greece), where St. Paul fled from Thessaloniki (Acts 17:10) and taught there in the synagogue. He found here many who were eager to receive the gospel to compare it with Hebrew scriptures. It is also here that St. Luke notes (Acts 17:12) that many believed and “honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few, came to Jesus.” St. Paul was made to flee Berea to Athens but left Silas and Timothy to care for the believers here. We visit the “Triptych Monument,” which is reputed to be ruins of the ancient synagogue where St. Paul taught. We see a magnificent display made of colorful mosaic tiles, which depicts the teachings of St. Paul. We continue by bus to tour Thessaloniki, including the Basilica of St. Demetrius (patron saint) and the Church of St. Sophia, dating back to the 7th century.

Check-in, dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.